Do you Have a Pulsating or Thumping Feeling in your Abdomen?

If an abdominal aortic aneurism is detected early, treatment is successful.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening stretching or ballooning of the aorta, the main blood vessel in the body. If the pressure of the aneurysm is too great, it can rupture and may lead to death. AAA affects 8 percent of people over age 65. One in every 250 people over age 50 will die of a ruptured AAA. However, when it’s diagnosed and treated early, most people have few complications.

Symptoms associated with a ruptured AAA:

• Pulsating feeling in the abdomen
• Abdominal pain (sometimes sudden)
• Hard abdomen
• Cool, pale or sweaty skin
• Light-headedness
• Nausea
• Rapid pulse

Because symptoms are typically mild before an aneurysm ruptures, AAA is usually detected during tests performed for other reasons. That’s why the key to prevention is early detection. If you are male age 55 to 70, have high blood pressure, smoke or have a family history of arterial disease, you’re at a greater risk.

To find out if you’re at risk for this or any vascular disease, these diagnostic tests are available at Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network’s (LVHHN) Institute for Vascular Medicine and Surgery:

Arteriogram-A small, flexible tube (catheter) is inserted into an artery at the groin. Once in place, a small amount of dye is injected into the artery allowing the blood flow to be seen with X-ray.

Doppler ultrasound-A handheld instrument is moved over the skin near the blood vessel in question. Sound waves reflect off blood cells as they flow through blood vessels and form a picture on a television monitor. It is completely painless and takes only a few minutes.

Ankle Brachial Index (ABI)-This pain-free test is done while lying on the back. A blood pressure is measured at the ankles and arms. A normal ABI (1 to 1.1) means the blood pressure at your ankle is the same or greater than the pressure at your arm, and there is no significant narrowing or blockage of blood flow.

If You Need Surgery

LVHHN is the first in the Lehigh Valley to offer a less invasive procedure (endovascular technique) to correct an AAA. A small incision is made in the groin area. A catheter is placed in the groin artery and moved to the aneurysm. A wire mesh tube (stent) is placed inside the aorta to bypass the aneurysm. This technique reduces complications and allows patients to recover more quickly.

The second procedure performed at LVHHN temporarily redirects blood flow around the aneurysm while the unhealthy section of the aorta is removed. A man-made graft is then placed in the artery to replace the damaged section.

For more information on the team of vascular surgeons at Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network’s Institute for Vascular Medicine and Surgery or to schedule an appointment, call 610-402-CARE today.

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