Abdominal aortic aneurysm
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is caused by a weakness in the part of the aorta supplying blood to the abdomen, legs, and pelvis. This weakness eventually caves outwards and enlarges into a balloon along the wall of the blood vessel.
Men are more likely to develop this type of aneurysm, according to the American Heart Association [6]. Most cases are seen in older men who have one or more risk factors for the condition. This could be high blood pressure, high cholesterol, emphysema, family history, or smoking. The emphysema may develop due to smoking.
Women also suffer from this type of aneurysm, but their aneurysms are more likely to burst, even when the bulge is small. If a rupture occurs, the patient should be rushed to a hospital immediately.
A ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm is rapidly life-threatening and the survival rate is low. The annual survival rate without surgery is 20 percent [7]. Those who survive until they reach the hospital have a 50 percent [8] chance of survival.