Ultrasound: Skills of carrying out Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Assessment (AAA)

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Presenting Symptoms

Ultrasound: Skills of carrying out Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Assessment (AAA) Clinical Features – presenting symptoms, signs and associated conditions Presenting Symptoms

The vast majority of aortic aneurysms (75 %) are asymptomatic. The table illustrates the different types of presenting symptoms.

Common presenting symptoms Presenting symptoms when rupture occurs Less common presenting symptoms
Epigastric pain Syncope/collapse Distal embolic features
back/flank pain Sudden onset abdominal pain Aorto-caval fistula
Pulsatile epigastric mass Hypovolaemic shock Primary aorto-intestinal fistula
Malaise and weight loss (with inflammatory aneurysms) Hydronephrosis following left ureteric obstruction
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