09/02/2015
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is becoming more and more common in Hong Kong and is known as a “silent killer” due to its asymptomatic nature. The prevalence of this disease is global. U.S and U.K have seen 15,000 deaths [1] and 6,000 deaths [2] respectively caused by ruptured AAAs. In Hong Kong, more than 1,000 new cases of aortic aneurysm are reported every year. It’s important to increase public awareness and understanding around the disease. The series will look into: Part 1: What is Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)? Part 2: Prevalence of AAA Part 3: Risk of Rupture Part 4: Symptoms Part 5: Risk factors Part 6: Diagnosis, prevention and treatment Part 7: Treatment options for AAA An abdominal aortic aneurysm is an abnormally dilated area in the lower part of the aorta within the abdomen [3] . The fact that it is asymptomatic means the aneurysm is often left unnoticed and unattended promptly.
The overall mortality rate of a ruptured aneurysm can be as high as 100% and the risk of rupture increases as the size of the aneurysm expands. Once internal bleeding is caused by the rupture of aneurysm, it becomes a life-threatening condition. It is usually asymptomatic before rupture, which makes it difficult to detect at an early stage. After it is ruptured though, the patient will suffer from the symptoms as follows:
What are the risk factors of AAA? Smoking, aging, diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension are the major risk factors of developing AAA and males are at greater risk than females.
How can AAA be diagnosed and prevented? Despite the difficulty of detecting AAA at an early stage, there are four major methods for the diagnosis of AAA. Although the mortality rate of a ruptured AAA is high, it is still preventable. Quitting smoking, controlling high blood pressure, regular exercise and a healthy diet will contribute to reducing the risks of developing AAA. Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and open repair are two primary treatment options for AAA. EVAR has a higher recovery rate but regular follow up scans after operation will be needed. The artificial vessel for open repair can function well for a year, yet there are high surgical complication risks.
