14 April 2021
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What is aortic aneurysm?
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Aortic aneurysm is dilatation or enlargement of the body’s main artery, the aorta. They can occur in any section of the aorta from its origin where it exits the heart down to its ending in the abdomen.
Aortic aneurysm explained in first person
Professionals and patients explain how you live with the disease
Aortic aneurysm | PortalCLÍNIC
In most cases it is not necessary to operate immediately. If the aneurysm is of a considerable size, and we believe that the risk of the disease outweighs the risk of the procedures we can offer to correct it, then we have both surgical and endovascular procedures that can be done with very little risk, and with very good results. And we can expect a normal life and a normal quality of life.
Eduard Quintana
Vascular surgeon
Types of Aortic Aneurysm
Aortic aneurysms are classified according to their location:
- Thoracic aortic aneurysms. These affect the aorta between the point where it emerges from the heart (ascending aorta and aortic arch) to where it leaves the chest through the diaphragm (descending aorta).
- Abdominal aortic aneurysms. This is the most common type of aortic aneurysm. It affects the aorta within the abdomen, usually below the renal arteries. They are often associated with iliac artery aneurysms (blood vessels that carry blood from the abdomen to the legs and pelvic organs).
- Thoracoabdominal Aortic Aneurysms. These begin in the thoracic aorta and extend continuously toward the abdominal aorta, encompassing the visceral arteries (that carry oxygenated blood from the aorta to the internal organs of the abdomen, such as the stomach, liver, intestines and kidney.
They can also be classified based on other characteristics such as:
Aetiology or cause. Atherosclerotic or degenerative aneurysms (the most frequent), mycotic aneurysms (secondary to an infectious process), post-traumatic aneurysms, among others.
Morphology. Fusiform (uniform dilatation of the wall of the aorta) or saccular aneurysms (dilatation of a specific section of the wall).
Presence or absence of symptoms. Aortic aneurysms can be asymptomatic (most patients) or symptomatic.
How many people is affected?
It is hard to calculate the true prevalence because most cases do not produce symptoms, but general estimates indicate that aortic aneurysms affect around 4–5% of men and 1–2% of women aged over 60.
Apart from old age and being male, the prevalence also increases in people who smoke, have high blood pressure, peripheral artery disease (a circulatory disease affecting the lower limbs) and people from Europe, North Africa and Western Asia.
They are also more common in patients with a family history of aneurysmal disease or certain genetic disorders.
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BBVA Foundation website.This link opens in a new tab.
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Substantiated information by:
Eduardo Quintana Obrador
Vascular Surgeon
Cardiovascular Surgery Department
Xavier Yugueros
Vascular Surgeon
Angiology and Vascular Surgery Service
Published: 10 March 2020
Updated: 30 June 2025
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