What it means
The aorta is the body's largest artery. When its wall weakens, often from atherosclerosis, high blood pressure and smoking, it balloons out. Most grow slowly without symptoms and are found on imaging. A large one can burst (rupture), causing massive internal bleeding. Small ones are watched with ultrasound; larger ones are repaired with surgery or a stent graft.
For the nurse
Do not press deeply on a pulsing mass in the belly. Help keep blood pressure controlled, and report sudden severe belly or back pain with signs of shock at once.
At a glance
| Spanish | aneurisma de aorta abdominal |
|---|---|
| Also written | AAA |
Related terms
hypertension
Blood pressure that stays higher than normal, at or above 130/80 mm Hg by current US guidelines.
atherosclerosis
A buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) inside the walls of the arteries.
dissection
A tear in the inner layer of an artery wall that lets blood split the layers apart; also, the cutting apart of tissue in surgery.