TSC Rutherford
515 StoneCrest Pkwy | Suite 230 Smyrna, TN 37167
TEL 615.223.9935 FAX 615.891.5046
What is AAA?
What is an abdominal aortic aneurysm?
Your blood vessels are the transport system that carries blood to and from your heart to the rest of your body. Usually everything runs pretty smoothly with this system, but sometimes there can be a problem. For example, one of the large blood vessels that supplies blood to your abdomen and lower body can swell up or bulge. This bulge is called and abdominal aortic aneurysm and it can be pretty serious if it breaks open or ruptures.
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a very serious condition.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Symptoms
What are the symptoms of an abdominal aortic aneurysm?
How do you find out if you have an aneurysm? You may not realize that you have one because often aneurysms don’t cause any symptoms until they rupture. An imaging test like a CT scan or ultrasound may help in finding a suspected aneurysm. If it does breaks open you may feel a few symptoms.
→ Severe pain in stomach
→ Pain may spread to your groin, buttocks, or legs
→ Feel sick to your stomach
→ Have clammy skin
→ Faster heartbeat than normal
If you any of these symptoms, see your doctor who can examine you. Your doctor may also recommend an imaging test to see for sure if you have an aneurysm.
Our Surgeons
The Surgical Clinic has vascular surgeons who specialize in abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery throughout Smyrna and Middle Tennessee.
Who is at risk?
The descending aorta is one of the large blood vessels that send blood to your abdomen and legs. Over the period of many years, this blood vessel can start to bulge. Although, doctors are sure exactly an aneurysm, they do know that it’s more common in certain circumstances.
Who is at risk for an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm:
→ Males over 60
→ Overweight
→ Smoke
→ High blood pressure
→ High cholesterol
Eventually, if not treated the aneurysm can pop open or rupture and spill blood into your abdominal cavity or into the wall of the artery. If an aneurysms ruptures, it’s considered a true medical emergency.
How The Surgical Clinic can help:
Evaluation→ Evaluation of descending aortic disease (dissection, supra/juxta/infra renal AAA disease).
Surveillance→ Surveillance of the growth after the initial screening with a Primary Care Physician.
Surgery → Surgery if the aneurysm grows to a certain size.
Preventing an AAA
Ways to potentially prevent an abdominal aortic aneurysm
It’s better to avoid getting an aneurysm than to have it treated. Follow these pointers to help prevent AAA.
Preventing an aortic aneurysm:
→ Eat a healthy diet
→ Watch you cholesterol
→ Keep an eye on you blood pressure levels
→ Do no smoke
→ Get an ultrasound screening
Men who are over the age of 65 and have ever smoked or who have a close relative who has had an abdominal aortic aneurysm should have one screen ultrasound don to check for AAA.
Find a vascular surgeon
The board-certified vascular surgeons at The Surgical Clinic in Smyrna, TN specialize in advanced minimally invasive surgery (like robotic surgery) for treating colorectal cancer. Give us a call today to learn more.