Excessive smoking and hypertension may lead to Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), a condition which can become life-threatening, if it is not detected early. “Although AAA is common in elderly of more than 60 years of age, and exclusively in chronic smokers, yet it can be found even in the youths, especially men,” said Dr Rajesh Vijayvergiya, Additional professor of department of Cardiology in the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.
Aorta is the main blood vessel that supplies blood to whole body by its various branches and abdominal aorta is peculiar as it supplies blood to both kidneys and intestine along with lower limbs. Sometimes, wall of abdominal aorta become weak and get stretched and dilated leading to a disease entity known as “Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), added Dr Vijayvergiya.
The doctor added that an abdominal aorta of more than 3 cm in dimension is significant and needs a medical attention. Any size above 5.5cm needs urgent attention and treatment for AAA. “In 70 per cent cases, patients do not show any symptoms of this disease hence are not diagnosed early, while 20 to 25 symptomatic patients also do have non-specific symptoms like chronic abdominal pain, flank pain or chronic back pain,” he added.
He said a large sized AAA may rupture spontaneously, and if not treated immediately, it can be life-threatening. “An ultrasound screening can reduce the risk of rupture through early detection, appropriate monitoring and treatment. The common risk factors for AAA are advanced age, smoking, hypertension, increase cholesterol and family history of AAA”, said Dr Rajesh.
The PGI doctor said that the numbers of AAA patients are increasing day by day. “I am seeing one or two patients suffering with this problem every month here for the last couple of years, however as we don’t have the exact data of the people suffering with this problem, which raise more alarming situation for this problem in this modern life style”, added Dr. Rajesh.
PGI experts recommend less invasive stent based Endo-Vascular Aortic aneurysm Repair (EVAR) for the treatment of AAA. “Though, Open surgical repair used to be standard treatment for AAA, however EVAR has the advantage of less operative time and shorter hospital stay, reduced early post procedure morbidity and mortality”, said Prof. Mukut Minz, Head of the department of Transplant surgery.
He said certain patients’ needs a hybrid approach, where a vascular surgeon has to pitch in for a bypass graft to renal or mesenteric arteries. Dr Rajesh said that EVAR procedures require a closed collaboration and co-ordination with other specialty such as cardiac surgery, vascular surgery, and anesthesia and radiology department.