1. Heart Disease (Coronary Artery Disease) Slideshow Pictures
2. Medical Illustrations of the Heart Image Collection
3. Take the Heart Disease Quiz!

Medical Author:

Shabir Bhimji, MD

Coauthor:

Bryan Hoynak, MD

Medical Editor:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

View Full Profile

With prompt diagnosis and proper surgical treatment, most people recover fully.

Treatment usually requires minimal alteration of lifestyle, although recommendations to avoid dietary fat and smoking and to control blood pressure may allow patients to prevent further damage to their blood vessels.

Because these conditions most often occur in elderly people with other medical conditions, recovery can be prolonged and difficult.

Complications of untreated aortic aneurysm include the following:

• Blood clot: Where the aorta widens into a bulge, blood clots (thrombi) are more likely to form. If a piece of a blood clot breaks off (embolizes), it travels through the circulatory system until it lodges somewhere. The clot can cut off blood flow to any area of the body. Symptoms depend on which part of the body is deprived of blood.
• Internal bleeding: In ruptured aneurysm or dissection, internal bleeding will occur. If individuals have symptoms associated with internal bleeding, they are in danger and must seek emergency medical care right away.
• Circulatory shock: If anyone bleeds enough, their blood pressure will drop dangerously low. Organs will not receive enough blood to function normally. This is called circulatory collapse or often just "shock." It is a life-threatening condition.

Must Read Articles Related to Aortic Aneurysm

Abdominal Pain in Adults Abdominal pain in adults can range from a mild stomach ache to severe pain. Examples of causes of abdominal pain in adults include appendicitis, gallbladder dis...learn more >>

Back Pain Back pain may be caused by sciatica, a herniated disc, spinal stenosis, fibromyalgia, injury and pregnancy. Possible symptoms include pain that radiates down t...learn more >>

Blood Clots Blood is supposed to clot to help repair a blood vessel that is injured. Clots or thrombi become a problem when they form inappropriately. There are a variety o...learn more >>

See the Entire Aortic Aneurysm Topic Guide »