Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
By Richaly Luce, T TH PM Laboratory
Fall 2016
INTRODUCTION
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is the dilation of a localized area of the abdominal aorta. The most common complication of this is rupture of the aneurysm. When it ruptures the mortality rate is around 90%. Rupture of the aneurysm causes massive hemorrhage into the abdominal cavity. Abdominal aortic aneurysm affects around 5-9% of the population over the age of 65, and most common in males. It is less common in females and tends to happen after the age of 75. The rupture resulting in death of the aneurysm affects about 1-2% of all male deaths in western countries. I’ve done some light research in the past about this pathology. Now that I have the opportunity …show more content…
The structural composition of the aortic wall is elastin and collagen. Elastin is a protein found in connective tissue and gives elasticity. Collagen is a structural protein also found in connective tissue and most places in the body. Elastin is the load baring element and gives the artery the capacity to stretch. The collagen is a strong safety net to keep the artery’s structure together. The wall of the abdominal aorta has a thickness of 0.7 mm. The wall can double its length due to its elasticity and may easily return to its original state. In comparison with the thoracic aorta, the abdominal aorta is more rigid and thinner do to more collagen fibers and less elastin is this area. Because of this structure abdominal aortic aneurisms are more …show more content…
Depending of where the aneurism happens it is called different names; abdominal aortic aneurysm, thoracic aortic aneurysm and thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm. An abdominal aortic aneurysm is the dilation of a localized area of the aorta below the renal arteries that is at least 50% larger than the rest of the infrarenal aorta. In healthy people the maximum diameter of the infrarenal aorta should be 2.1cm. An abdominal aortic aneurysm is considered to be present when a localized area of the infrarenal aorta is larger than 3cm. People at risk for this disease are males over the age of 65. The formation of the aneurysm can be contributed to genetics, environmental factors and smoking. Another factor contributing to the weakening of the aortic wall is the natural degradation of elastin. Elastin is only produced in early childhood and it is not produced during adulthood. Elastin also has a half life of 70 years which may attribute to why aortic aneurysms are more prone to happen in elder people. Collagen is synthesized for the duration of life, and increased in adulthood. Genetically some people may have abnormalities in their elastin proteins making them more susceptible to aneurisms. Studies have also shown that people who suffer from abdominal aortic aneurysms have higher levels of elastolyc activity. Elastolyc activity is the digestion of elastic tissue. Reduced antiproteolytic activity may