Keywords
Ruptured Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm, AAA
Date of Presentation
5-1-2025 12:00 AM
Poster Abstract
A ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening vascular emergency with high mortality rates. We report a case of a 79-year-old male with no reported past medical history but a significant lifelong smoking history who presented to the emergency department with generalized weakness, lower abdominal pain, hypotension, tachycardia, and a reported syncopal episode. Emergency medical services (EMS) found the patient at home during a welfare check, appearing pale and weak. Upon movement from his bed to a stretcher, he experienced a syncopal episode, became tachycardic, and was transiently hypoxic. Initial laboratory studies revealed a hemoglobin of 13 g/dL, hematocrit of 40.6%, and lactate of 7.3 mmol/L. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrated a ruptured infrarenal AAA measuring 12.5 x 11.1 x 13.5 cm, with a large surrounding retroperitoneal hematoma and hemoperitoneum. This case highlights the importance of early recognition and emergent management of ruptured AAA, which requires prompt surgical intervention to improve survival outcomes.
Disciplines
Cardiovascular Diseases | Emergency Medicine | Medicine and Health Sciences | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms | Surgery
Included in
Cardiovascular Diseases Commons, Emergency Medicine Commons, Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Commons, Surgery Commons
Case Report: Ruptured Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
A ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening vascular emergency with high mortality rates. We report a case of a 79-year-old male with no reported past medical history but a significant lifelong smoking history who presented to the emergency department with generalized weakness, lower abdominal pain, hypotension, tachycardia, and a reported syncopal episode. Emergency medical services (EMS) found the patient at home during a welfare check, appearing pale and weak. Upon movement from his bed to a stretcher, he experienced a syncopal episode, became tachycardic, and was transiently hypoxic. Initial laboratory studies revealed a hemoglobin of 13 g/dL, hematocrit of 40.6%, and lactate of 7.3 mmol/L. Computed tomography angiography (CTA) of the abdomen and pelvis demonstrated a ruptured infrarenal AAA measuring 12.5 x 11.1 x 13.5 cm, with a large surrounding retroperitoneal hematoma and hemoperitoneum. This case highlights the importance of early recognition and emergent management of ruptured AAA, which requires prompt surgical intervention to improve survival outcomes.
