Major risk factors for atheriosclerosis are smoking and high blood pressure, although it also probably runs in families. Many people can have an aortic aneurysm for years before any symptoms develop. When they do become evident, symptoms vary according to the type and location of the aneurysm. The treatment of an aortic aneurysm depends on the symptoms that it causes. If it is asymptomatic, your doctor will advise you on the best course of treatment, as surgery carries a risk.
Symptomatic aneurysms require early or urgent treatment.
The surgical procedure involves replacing the part of the aorta affected by the aneurysm with a synthetic graft a tube made out of an elastic material with properties very similar to that of a normal healthy aorta. The risk of death from a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm is about 50-75 per cent, even during operation.