What sort of problem is an aortic aneurysm?

Dilation: It is a swelling or dilation of a vessel due to weakness in the wall of the vessel (aorta). The concern is the risk for rupture, which can cause severe pain and massive bleeding.

Serious: Aortic aneurysm indicates ballooning of the aorta which could burst if it exceeds certain diameter between 5-5.5 cm.

AAA: As the aneurysm enlarges the wall becomes thinner. As it becomes thinner it looses the ability to contain the pressure of the beating blood flow. At a certain point the enlarged blood vessel with a thin wall bursts and that is called a ruptured aneurysm.