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Written by Biotic Artlab

Jul 20, 2026

Aortic abdominal aneurysm

What is an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm?

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) develops when a section of the aorta, the body’s largest artery, becomes weak and bulges outward. The abdominal aorta carries oxygen-rich blood from your heart to the organs and tissues in your abdomen, pelvis, and legs. When part of that artery stretches beyond its normal size, the risk of serious complications increases.

Many people never know they have an abdominal aortic aneurysm because it often grows silently. There are usually no symptoms until the aneurysm becomes large or starts to leak. If it ruptures, it becomes a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.

In the United States alone, abdominal aortic aneurysms cause nearly 10,000 deaths each year, and ruptured aneurysms have a mortality rate that exceeds 80%. Early diagnosis can make the difference between routine monitoring and life-saving emergency surgery.

“Most abdominal aortic aneurysms are discovered before symptoms develop, often during imaging performed for another reason.”

Society for Vascular Surgery

The aorta is designed to handle constant high-pressure blood flow. Over time, aging, smoking, vascular disease, and other factors can weaken the artery wall. Instead of maintaining its normal shape, the vessel gradually expands.

Not every aneurysm is dangerous. Small aneurysms may remain stable for years. Larger aneurysms, or those that grow quickly, carry a much higher risk of rupture.

Doctors usually classify an aneurysm based on its size and growth rate. These measurements help determine whether regular monitoring or surgery is the safest option.

An aneurysm measuring less than 5 cm is often monitored with regular ultrasound or CT imaging.

Once the aneurysm reaches approximately 5.5 cm in men, or grows rapidly over a short period, surgical repair is usually recommended because the risk of rupture rises significantly.

Symptoms

One of the biggest challenges with abdominal aortic aneurysms is that they rarely cause symptoms during the early stages.

When symptoms appear, they may include:

Persistent pain in your abdomen
Pain in your lower back or side
A strong pulsing sensation near your belly button
A feeling of fullness or pressure in your abdomen

A ruptured aneurysm is a medical emergency.

Signs of rupture include:

Sudden, severe abdominal or back pain
Pain that feels tearing or ripping
Rapid heartbeat
Low blood pressure
Dizziness, fainting, or shock

Call emergency medical services immediately if these symptoms occur.

“Screening saves lives because abdominal aortic aneurysms often remain silent until they become dangerous.”

U.S. Preventive Services Task Force

Causes

There is rarely one single cause. Most aneurysms develop after years of damage to the artery wall.

Common causes include:

Atherosclerosis: Fatty deposits build up inside arteries over time. This weakens blood vessel walls and contributes to aneurysm formation.
Smoking: Smoking remains the strongest known risk factor. It damages the structure of the aortic wall and dramatically increases both aneurysm formation and rupture risk.
High blood pressure: Chronically elevated blood pressure places additional stress on the aorta, making weak areas more likely to expand.
Inflammatory or genetic conditions: Certain inherited connective tissue disorders and inflammatory diseases can weaken the aortic wall.
Trauma or infection: Less commonly, severe injuries or infections affecting the aorta can lead to aneurysm formation.

Risk factors

Several factors increase your likelihood of developing an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

The highest-risk groups include:

Adults over age 65
People who smoke or previously smoked
Men
Individuals with high blood pressure
People with high cholesterol
Anyone with a family history of aneurysms
Patients with aneurysms elsewhere in the body

Current screening guidelines recommend a one-time abdominal ultrasound for many men aged 65 to 75 who have ever smoked. Screening can identify aneurysms before they become dangerous.

Complications

The most serious complication is rupture.

When an aneurysm bursts, severe internal bleeding occurs within minutes. Without immediate surgery, survival is unlikely.

Other complications include:

Aortic dissection: A tear develops within the wall of the aorta, allowing blood to separate its layers.
Blood clots: Blood flow inside an aneurysm becomes turbulent, increasing the risk of clot formation. If a clot travels elsewhere in the body, it can block blood flow to the legs, kidneys, or other organs.

Treatment

Treatment depends on three main factors:

The aneurysm’s size
How quickly it is growing
Your overall health

Small aneurysms are usually monitored with scheduled imaging scans.

Your healthcare team may also recommend:

Blood pressure control
Cholesterol management
Smoking cessation
Regular follow-up imaging

Larger or rapidly expanding aneurysms typically require surgery.

Two common procedures include:

Open surgical repair, which replaces the weakened section of the aorta with a synthetic graft.
Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR), a minimally invasive procedure that reinforces the artery from within using a stent graft.

The right approach depends on your anatomy, overall health, and the characteristics of the aneurysm.

Prevention

You cannot change your age or genetics, but you can lower your overall risk.

Healthy habits include:

Stop smoking
Keep your blood pressure under control
Manage cholesterol levels
Stay physically active
Maintain a heart-healthy diet
Attend regular medical checkups if you have known risk factors

These steps also reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

Why visual communications matters for abdominal aortic aneurysms?

Abdominal aortic aneurysms are difficult to explain using words alone. Patients often struggle to understand where the aneurysm is located, how it develops, or why treatment decisions depend on its size.

Medical illustrations and animations make these concepts easier to understand. They help patients visualize the anatomy, compare normal and diseased vessels, and better understand procedures such as EVAR or open surgical repair.

Clear visuals also improve communication between healthcare professionals, researchers, medical device companies, and patients. They support informed decision-making, improve educational materials, and make complex scientific information more accessible.

How Biotic Artlab supports abdominal aortic aneurysm communication?

At Biotic Artlab, we translate complex vascular science into visuals that people can immediately understand.

Our team creates custom scientific illustrations, 3D medical animations, interactive educational content, and publication-ready graphics for healthcare organizations, biotech companies, pharmaceutical teams, and medical device manufacturers.

Whether you’re explaining aneurysm development, demonstrating a surgical procedure, presenting clinical trial results, or educating patients, we create visuals that improve clarity without oversimplifying the science.

Our services include:

Medical illustration
3D medical animation
Interactive patient education
Scientific figures for journals
Conference and presentation graphics
Biotech and medical device visualization
Healthcare marketing visuals

Related services:

Medical Illustration
Medical Animation
Scientific Visualization
Interactive Medical Education
Biotech Marketing Visuals

Helpful external resources:

Society for Vascular Surgery
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

Frequently Asked Questions

What size abdominal aortic aneurysm requires surgery?

In many patients, surgery is recommended when the aneurysm reaches approximately 5.5 cm or if it grows rapidly. Your vascular surgeon considers several factors before making a recommendation.

Can an abdominal aortic aneurysm go away on its own?

No. An aneurysm does not shrink or heal naturally. Small aneurysms are monitored, while larger ones may require surgical repair.

Is abdominal aortic aneurysm hereditary?

Yes. Having a first-degree relative with an abdominal aortic aneurysm increases your risk.

Can you exercise if you have an abdominal aortic aneurysm?

Most people can remain physically active, but high-intensity lifting or strenuous exercise may need to be limited. Your doctor can recommend safe activity levels.

What is the biggest risk factor for abdominal aortic aneurysm?

Smoking is consistently identified as the strongest modifiable risk factor for both developing an aneurysm and experiencing rupture.

Is screening recommended?

Current guidelines recommend one-time ultrasound screening for many men aged 65 to 75 who have ever smoked. People with a strong family history may also benefit from screening earlier.

Have a project in mind? Contact us.

Medical information becomes much more effective when people can actually see what is happening. We help healthcare organizations, biotech companies, and medical device teams communicate complex science through accurate, engaging visual content.