Abdominal aortic aneurysm

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a weak area in the wall of the abdominal aorta – the artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. The aorta is the body’s largest blood vessel, and when an area is weak, it may bulge like a balloon when blood flows through it. The most common site for an aortic aneurysm to occur is below the point where the aorta divides to supply blood to the kidneys and above the point where it divides to supply blood to the pelvis and legs. Aneurysms are a serious health risk because they may burst or rupture, causing severe internal bleeding.

Most people have no symptoms at all, even if the aneurysm is large. Fortunately, a large number of AAA ruptures can be prevented. AAAs can be identified in just minutes with a painless, noninvasive, ultrasound screening.

Fact sheet about AAA (pdf)