An aortic aneurysm can be described as a "bulge in a blood vessel." If this bulge ruptures, blood escapes through the hole in the vessel and cannot reach vital organs. Because the aorta is the main vessel supplying blood to the body, an aortic aneurysm is a serious, life-threatening condition.
Shock
If the aneurysm expands suddenly, ruptures or tears significantly, the person could go into shock because his blood is not circulating properly. A person in shock has very low blood pressure, a rapid pulse and clammy skin.
Tenderness or Pain
The aorta travels from the heart, down through the abdomen, where it splits into two arteries, which then continue down the legs. An aneurysm may occur anywhere along the aorta. The victim may complain of tenderness in her chest or upper abdomen if an aneurysm is located in her thorax. She may also have back pain not associated with known causes. Occasionally, a person with an aneurysm in the lower abdomen reports that her hips and thighs ache.
Pulsing
A person suffering from an abdominal aortic aneurysm may notice a pulsing sensation near his navel. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons names abdominal aortic aneurysms as the most common type, although aneurysm and rupture of the venous walls can happen anywhere.
Stiff or Rigid Abdomen
The abdominal muscles may become stiff or rigid in response to the aortic aneurysm. The doctor may be able to feel an abdominal mass upon examination. He may even be able to feel the blood pulsing in the aneurysm. The doctor would then order additional tests to confirm the diagnosis of aortic aneurysm.
No Symptoms
Some patients with an aortic aneurysm have no symptoms at all. Most aneurysms develop slowly, and often a person does not know she has this condition unless the aneurysm ruptures or the bulge presses against tissues or another organ. The first sign of an aortic aneurysm may show up on a chest x-ray or other tests a patient has to diagnose another illness.
