Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

🚨 Symptoms

Deep, constant pain in abdomen or back; pulsating feeling near navel; sudden severe pain if ruptures; low blood pressure; rapid heart rate

🔍 Causes

Atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries), smoking, high blood pressure, genetic factors, age >65, male gender, family history

💊 Treatment

Monitoring small aneurysms with ultrasound; surgery (open repair) or endovascular stent grafting for larger ones; blood pressure control

📝 Nursing Care

Monitor blood pressure, assess pain, watch for signs of rupture (sudden severe pain, hypotension), prepare for emergency surgery, monitor distal pulses

Source: NHS Scotland. For educational purposes only.