Introduction
In most cases, aneurysms do not cause symptoms. This is the reason why up to 30% are discovered by chance by an ultrasound examination. In 45% of cases, the aortic aneurysm becomes symptomatic and causes back and flank pain and a feeling of pressure in the chest. Breathlessness and hotness may also occur, especially in the case of aneurysms in the chest area. Abdominal aneurysms (aneurysms of the abdominal artery) can cause deceptive back pain with radiation into the thigh.
All possible symptoms of aortic aneurysm
Symptoms of a thoracic aneurysm: Often no symptoms Chest pain Back pain Backache Coughing Hoarseness Difficulty in swallowing Abnormal sound of breathing (stridor) Shortness of breath (dyspnoea) Upper influence congestion (Cava-superior syndrome) Circulatory disorders in the arms or brain Cardiac arrhythmia Heart failure Pneumonia Symptoms of an abdominal aortic aneurysm Pain in the back, chest, lower abdomen Flank pain radiating into the legs or back Increased pulsation in the upper abdomen when palpating Visible pulsating swelling when lying down for slim patients Stabbing, permanent pain in the abdomen Nausea, vomiting General symptoms Macroembolism
- Often no symptoms
- Chest pain
- Back pain
- Cough
- Hoarseness
- Swallowing disorders
- Pathological breathing noise (stridor)
- Respiratory distress (dyspnoea)
- Upper influence congestion (Cava-superior syndrome)
- Circulatory disorders in the arms or brain
- Cardiac arrhythmias
- Heart failure
- Pneumonia
- Often no symptoms
- Pain in the back, chest, lower abdomen
- Flank pain radiating into legs or back
- Increased pulsation in the upper abdomen during palpation
- Visible pulsating swelling while lying down in slim patients
- Stabbing, permanent pain in the abdomen
- Nausea, vomiting
- Microemboli
- Macro Embolisms
Complaints in the area of the ribcage
The abdominal aortic aneurysm often goes unnoticed for a long time because the symptoms are very unremarkable. It is often discovered by chance during an ultrasound examination of the abdomen. If an abdominal aortic aneurysm is noticed, it is usually due to pain.
The pain may be localized in the upper abdomen and radiate from the abdomen to the back or legs. Abdominal pain has a stabbing, permanent pain character that is present regardless of body position or location. If the aneurysm threatens to burst, the affected person feels a sudden pain in the abdomen and back.
This is called a pain that is so unbearable that it is called a “pain of destruction”. The aorta is the main artery, the central artery that pumps blood from the heart into the body’s circulation. All arteries of our body basically have a pulse.
This means that the blood ejections from the heart cause a shock wave that we can still feel, for example, on our wrist. In a healthy person, you usually do not see a pulsation of the abdomen, unless you are very slim. A pulsation of the abdomen can be a sign of an extensive abdominal aortic aneurysm.
In some patients, increased pulsations can be felt, in others they may even be clearly visible when lying down. An abdominal aortic aneurysm often causes abdominal pain radiating into the back or only back pain that is diffusely distributed over the back. The pain can resemble lumbago or renal colic.
But an aneurysm of the thoracic aorta can also cause back pain. Back pain can be both occasional and permanent. Since back pain is a common complaint in Germany, an aneurysm is often overlooked as a cause. If the aneurysm ruptures, a pain of destruction occurs, which usually radiates into the back.