According to researchers, the appropriate approach to abdominal aortic aneurysms is to leave those below five and a half centimeters alone. The
According to researchers, the appropriate approach to abdominal aortic aneurysms is to leave those below five and a half centimeters alone. The abdominal aorta is the main artery serving the lower organs of the body, supplying them with blood from the heart. Fragility in the wall of the aorta leads to a bulge called an aneurysm which may rupture a potentially fateful problem.
The standard treatment for an aneurysm is to repair it surgically. But researchers at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center suggests that surgeons should look at the size of the aneurysm before they operate.All surgery carries a risk which has to be balanced against the benefits of having the operation. If the aneurysm is unlikely ever to rupture, then it is not worthwhile taking the risk of surgery. According to this study only aneurysms that have a diameter of 5.5 centimeters are worth repair surgery. If this new guidance was followed, there would be 30 per cent fewer repairs and a decreased mortality and complication rate.
