Treatment Overview

After you are diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm, your doctor will evaluate:

• Whether you need surgery.
• Whether you will be able to withstand a surgery.
• Whether you can avoid surgery, at least for the present.

Factors such as the shape and flexibility of the aorta and heart valves are also considered in deciding how to treat an aortic aneurysm.

When surgery is recommended

Aortic aneurysms that are causing symptoms or enlarging rapidly are considered at risk of rupturing. Surgery is usually recommended if either of these factors is present.

In men, surgery is also typically recommended for abdominal aortic aneurysms that are 5.5 cm or larger in diameter. In women, surgery may be recommended for smaller aneurysms.

Surgery is also recommended when a small aortic aneurysm grows more than 0.5 cm in 6 months.

Surgical repair of thoracic aortic aneurysms is usually recommended when they reach 5.5 to 6.0 cm in diameter.

The decision to have surgery, delay surgery, or not have surgery at all depends on other things too. These may include older age or medical problems that make surgery more dangerous.

Medical treatment for aortic aneurysm

Smaller aneurysms (less than 5.5 cm in diameter) that are not at high risk for rupturing are generally treated with medicine used to treat high blood pressure, such as a beta-blocker. Beta-blockers may decrease the rate at which aneurysms grow. In general, the risks of surgery to repair smaller aneurysms outweigh the possible benefits, because smaller aneurysms rarely rupture.

If surgery is not done to repair your aneurysm, you will have regular tests to see if it is getting bigger.

You may need to take medicine to treat high cholesterol and high blood pressure. These measures have not been proved to slow aneurysm growth, but they can improve your life in other ways. These measures reduce your risk of dying from heart attack and stroke.

For more information, see the topics High Cholesterol and High Blood Pressure.

Despite some claims, taking antioxidant vitamins has not been proved to reduce the risk of aneurysm or the risk of rupture.

Lifestyle changes for aortic aneurysm

If you smoke, try to quit. Medicines and counseling can help you quit for good.

Your doctor will probably recommend that you make other lifestyle changes, such as following a heart-healthy diet, limiting alcohol, and exercising. Try to do activities that raise your heart rate. Exercise for at least 30 minutes on most, preferably all, days of the week.