Re: Cause of abdominal anurysm

Posted By rebecca on July 03, 1998 at 13:00:40:

In Reply to: Re: Cause of abdominal anurysm posted by CCF CARDIO MD - MTR on July 01, 1998 at 00:15:44:






Can begin hit by a car cause or exacerbate an abdominal anurysm in an otherwise healthy 80 year old woman?  The woman in question was used to walking up to 10 miles a day and had no histroy of heart disease or hyypedrtentsion, nor did she ever smoke. Thank you.



  
Dear Rebecca, thank you for your question.  Abdominal aortic aneurysms
usually take long to develop and occur after years of high cholesterol levels,
smoking, diabetes, and high blood pressure.  It would be uncommon for this
type of aneurysm to develop after a car accident. Elderly patients that have none
of the common risk factors for coronary disease can still get an anuersmo. However, accelerating
trauma from a car accident could damage the lining of the aorta causing a dissection
of blood into the arterial wall.  In this circumstance, the aorta may enlarge
in diameter and appear to be an aneurysm on CT scan. Intense, searing pain should
accompany a disection in the abdominal aorta as well.  I suggest that you speak
to the treating physician to determine what has caused this aneurysm and what
other tests need to be done.  I hope you find this information useful.

Thank you for your information. Here is some further information. The woman in question died 4 1/2 months after the accident mentioned. I am not litigious and do not want to do anything unseemly, but have been trying to figure out how this woman, with no history of behaviors that cause aneurysm died so quickly. I feel so sad and lost. Could this have been prevented? I don't feel able to discuss this with her previous doctors because they will be afraid of a lawsuit (Something I am not interested in). Thanks for any further info
Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Specific
diagnoses and therapies can only be provided by your physician.