Abdominal aortic aneurysm

Overview

An abdominal aortic aneurysm is an enlarged area in the lower part of the aorta, the major blood vessel that supplies blood to the body. The aorta, about the thickness of a garden hose, runs from your heart through the center of your chest and abdomen. Because the aorta is the body's main supplier of blood, a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm can cause life-threatening bleeding.

Depending on the size and rate at which your abdominal aortic aneurysm is growing, treatment may vary from watchful waiting to emergency surgery. Once an abdominal aortic aneurysm is found, doctors will closely monitor it so that surgery can be planned if it's necessary. Emergency surgery for a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm can be risky

Why choose Mayo Clinic for abdominal aortic aneurysm

• Experience. Mayo Clinic doctors trained in blood vessel conditions (vascular specialists), blood vessel surgery (vascular and endovascular surgeons) and others have experience diagnosing and treating abdominal aortic aneurysms. Each Mayo Clinic location offers a vascular center staffed by doctors and other specialists trained in vascular diseases.
• Team approach. Mayo Clinic doctors work together to treat your condition.
• Efficient system. Mayo Clinic doctors evaluate your condition and develop a treatment plan, often within a few days.
• Diagnostic tools. Mayo Clinic doctors use imaging tests to accurately diagnose abdominal aortic aneurysms. Tests may include ultrasonography, computerized tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and others.
• Treatment expertise. Mayo Clinic doctors have expertise treating people who have abdominal aortic aneurysms using endovascular surgery, open abdominal surgery or a combination of both.
• Research leader. Mayo Clinic doctors study potential diagnosis and treatment options for abdominal aortic aneurysms and conduct clinical trials.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., is ranked among the Best Hospitals for heart and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report.

Mayo Clinic: Answers you can trust

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

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