Doctor: How specialists assess and advise

Evaluation usually begins with a primary care doctor or specialist who orders imaging such as ultrasound or CT to confirm an aneurysm and measure its size. Vascular surgeons and interventional radiologists commonly lead discussions about repair options; cardiologists, anesthesiologists, and primary physicians often contribute to risk assessment. A specialist will review comorbid conditions (heart disease, lung disease, kidney function), medication needs, and procedural risks to form a recommendation tailored to the patient’s clinical picture. Shared decision-making helps align treatment timing with the patient’s preferences and life circumstances.

Patient: What patients should expect during diagnosis

Many patients have no symptoms and learn about an AAA during imaging for another issue. If symptoms occur, they may include abdominal, back, or flank pain, or a pulsatile abdominal mass. After diagnosis, patients typically enter a surveillance program with scheduled imaging and clinical visits. Lifestyle measures—smoking cessation, blood pressure control, and cholesterol management—are emphasized to reduce progression risk. Patients should be prepared to discuss family history, current medications, and activity level with their care team, and to attend regular follow-ups to track aneurysm size and growth.

Hospital: When hospital-based care is required

Hospital-based care is needed for planned repair procedures and for urgent or emergency situations such as suspected aneurysm rupture. Preoperative hospital evaluation commonly includes labs, cardiac and pulmonary risk assessment, and sometimes additional imaging to map the aneurysm anatomy. During repair, patients are monitored in perioperative and sometimes intensive care settings; postoperative length of stay varies by procedure type and baseline health. Hospital teams coordinate pain management, infection prevention, and physical therapy or mobilization plans to support recovery and reduce complications.

Medical: Non-surgical management and monitoring

Not all aneurysms require immediate repair. Medical management focuses on controlling cardiovascular risk factors and surveillance imaging. Effective blood pressure control, typically guided by a physician, reduces stress on the aortic wall. Lipid-lowering therapies and antiplatelet management may be recommended when appropriate for overall vascular risk reduction. Surveillance intervals depend on aneurysm size and growth, and are determined by the treating team; ultrasound is commonly used for routine follow-up while CT angiography provides detailed anatomy when planning intervention.

Surgery: Repair methods and what the operation involves

There are two principal repair approaches: open surgical repair and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Open repair involves replacing the diseased aorta segment with a synthetic graft through an abdominal incision. EVAR uses endovascular access to position a stent graft via the femoral arteries and avoids a large incision. Each approach has different recovery profiles, procedure risks, and follow-up requirements—EVAR often has a shorter initial hospital stay but requires ongoing imaging surveillance for graft integrity. The choice of surgery depends on aneurysm anatomy, patient comorbidities, and expertise available at the treating center.

Conclusion

Abdominal aortic aneurysm care involves coordinated assessment, risk factor management, and tailored decisions about monitoring versus intervention. Specialists evaluate anatomical details and patient health to recommend observation or repair, and hospital-based teams support safe perioperative care when surgery is indicated. Patients benefit from clear communication with their doctor, adherence to surveillance schedules, and control of cardiovascular risk factors to reduce progression risk. Ongoing follow-up after any intervention is important to monitor results and maintain vascular health.