Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is when the large blood vessel that supplies blood to abdomen, pelvis and legs becomes abnormally large or balloons outward.

Patients with an AAA should be monitored regularly to see if the aneurysm is growing.

Surgery is usually recommended if an aneurysm is growing quickly or is bigger than about 2 inches across. Aneurysms larger than this are at higher risk of rupture. A ruptured aneurysm is a life-threatening medical emergency.

The AAA Program ensures that patients with AAA receive appropriate monitoring and care for their condition. Program staff work closely with referring doctors to provide the best possible care for their patients.

The program brings many resources together to care for AAA patients, including a variety of specialists, advanced imaging technology and other diagnostic tools, and the latest procedures and techniques for treating aneurysms.

If treatment is necessary, the AAA Program can offer both traditional surgery and minimally invasive (endovascular) surgery to repair aortic aneurysms. The treatment chosen will depend on the size and the location of the aneurysm and the patient’s overall health condition.

The Minneapolis Heart Institute® at Abbott Northwestern Hospital has developed standardized guidelines and systems to care for all cardiovascular emergencies,. These streamlined processes have been applied to treating AAA and are helping hospitals throughout the region provide better care for patients with a ruptured AAA. As a result, the average time required to diagnose and treat patients with a ruptured AAA has been significantly reduced. Faster treatment is associated with a higher survival rate.

Surgery is usually recommended if an aneurysm is growing quickly or is bigger than about 2 inches across. Aneurysms larger than this are at higher risk of rupture. A ruptured aneurysm is a life-threatening medical emergency.

The AAA Program ensures that patients with AAA receive appropriate monitoring and care for their condition. Program staff work closely with referring doctors to provide the best possible care for their patients.

The program brings many resources together to care for AAA patients, including a variety of specialists, advanced imaging technology and other diagnostic tools, and the latest procedures and techniques for treating aneurysms.

If treatment is necessary, the AAA Program can offer both traditional surgery and minimally invasive (endovascular) surgery to repair aortic aneurysms. The treatment chosen will depend on the size and the location of the aneurysm and the patient’s overall health condition.

The Minneapolis Heart Institute® at Abbott Northwestern Hospital has developed standardized guidelines and systems to care for all cardiovascular emergencies,. These streamlined processes have been applied to treating AAA and are helping hospitals throughout the region provide better care for patients with a ruptured AAA. As a result, the average time required to diagnose and treat patients with a ruptured AAA has been significantly reduced. Faster treatment is associated with a higher survival rate.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is when the large blood vessel that supplies blood to abdomen, pelvis and legs becomes abnormally large or balloons outward.

Patients with an AAA should be monitored regularly to see if the aneurysm is growing.

Surgery is usually recommended if an aneurysm is growing quickly or is bigger than about 2 inches across. Aneurysms larger than this are at higher risk of rupture. A ruptured aneurysm is a life-threatening medical emergency.

The AAA Program ensures that patients with AAA receive appropriate monitoring and care for their condition. Program staff work closely with referring doctors to provide the best possible care for their patients.

The program brings many resources together to care for AAA patients, including a variety of specialists, advanced imaging technology and other diagnostic tools, and the latest procedures and techniques for treating aneurysms.

If treatment is necessary, the AAA Program can offer both traditional surgery and minimally invasive (endovascular) surgery to repair aortic aneurysms. The treatment chosen will depend on the size and the location of the aneurysm and the patient’s overall health condition.

The Minneapolis Heart Institute® at Abbott Northwestern Hospital has developed standardized guidelines and systems to care for all cardiovascular emergencies,. These streamlined processes have been applied to treating AAA and are helping hospitals throughout the region provide better care for patients with a ruptured AAA. As a result, the average time required to diagnose and treat patients with a ruptured AAA has been significantly reduced. Faster treatment is associated with a higher survival rate.

Surgery is usually recommended if an aneurysm is growing quickly or is bigger than about 2 inches across. Aneurysms larger than this are at higher risk of rupture. A ruptured aneurysm is a life-threatening medical emergency.

The AAA Program ensures that patients with AAA receive appropriate monitoring and care for their condition. Program staff work closely with referring doctors to provide the best possible care for their patients.

The program brings many resources together to care for AAA patients, including a variety of specialists, advanced imaging technology and other diagnostic tools, and the latest procedures and techniques for treating aneurysms.

If treatment is necessary, the AAA Program can offer both traditional surgery and minimally invasive (endovascular) surgery to repair aortic aneurysms. The treatment chosen will depend on the size and the location of the aneurysm and the patient’s overall health condition.

The Minneapolis Heart Institute® at Abbott Northwestern Hospital has developed standardized guidelines and systems to care for all cardiovascular emergencies,. These streamlined processes have been applied to treating AAA and are helping hospitals throughout the region provide better care for patients with a ruptured AAA. As a result, the average time required to diagnose and treat patients with a ruptured AAA has been significantly reduced. Faster treatment is associated with a higher survival rate.