Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (ruptured)

Risk Factors:
  • >60 years-old
  • Smokers
  • Hypertension, Fam. Hist. (esp. in a sibling)

Key History: Very sudden onset of new abdominal pain

Exam:   Not very helpful
  • Often benign; pain out of proportion to physical findings
  • Many pts don’t have a palpable mass
  • Bruits may be common
  • “Loss of femoral pulses” not a common finding
Diagnosis:  Ultrasound or CT for aneurysm
  • Won’t see early rupture on image
  • Presence of aneurysm PLUS sudden onset pain makes the Dx

See posting Abdominal Pain – 3.