An aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the aorta that develops in areas where the aorta wall is weak. The aorta is the main blood vessel carrying oxygen-rich blood to other parts of the body. The pressure of the blood pumping through it causes the weakened section to bulge out like a balloon.

Stomach Pulses After Eating

An aneurysm can develop in any section of the aorta, but the most common type is an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA). It occurs in the part of the aorta that passes through the abdomen.

Can See Pulse In Stomach

Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms occur in the part of the aorta located in the chest area. They may not produce symptoms until the aorta bursts, causing chest or back pain.

A Thoracic Aortic Dissection is a tear that causes a ballooning of the aortic wall which can then rupture. Symptoms include constant chest or upper back pain that may feel like a “tearing” pain.

WebMD Symptom Checker helps you find the most common medical conditions indicated by the symptoms pulsating sensation (abdomen (upper)). Pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas, causes abdominal pain and swelling, nausea, and rapid pulse. Apr 03, 2015 Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Beware of Pulsating Pain in the Abdomen April 3, 2015 1 Comment An aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the aorta that develops in areas where the aorta wall is weak. The aorta is the main blood vessel carrying oxygen-rich blood to other parts of the body. Common causes of pulsating feeling in the stomach may include: Pregnancy may cause a pulsating in the stomach due to the amount of blood circulating around the body significantly increases. As more blood is being pumped with each heartbeat, the pulse in the abdominal aorta may be more noticeable.

Aneurysms can grow in size over time. As an aneurysm expands, it can start to cause symptoms. When an aneurysm gets too large, it can rupture and cause life-threatening bleeding or instant death without any prior warning.

A blood clot may also form in the aneurysm. Small pieces of a blood clot can break off and travel throughout the body. If a fragment of a clot gets stuck in the brain or a heart blood vessel, it can cause a stroke or a heart attack.

A frustrating fact is that most people with an abdominal aortic aneurysm do not have any symptoms at all. The aneurysm is usually discovered by X-ray during a routine exam for an unrelated health issue.

Many aortic aneurysms will grow slowly for years before they are large enough to cause symptoms. And even then, a large aneurysm may not cause any symptoms, thereby delaying a proper diagnosis.

When symptoms do occur, pain in the abdomen is most common. The pain may be occasional or constant. Some people describe a pulsing sensation in the abdomen which can be a warning sign of an AAA.

If an abdominal aortic aneurysm is suspected, your doctor may use ultrasound or CT scanning to investigate it. When an AAA is confirmed, a vascular specialist will use several imaging tests to gather more information regarding its size, shape and exact location in the abdomen. (CT scans and MRIs are typically used to diagnose thoracic aortic aneurysms.)

Per preventive screening guidelines from the Society for Vascular Surgery and the Society for Vascular Medicine and Biology, abdominal ultrasound screening is recommended for the following people:

• All men age 60 to 85
• All women age 60 to 85 who have cardiovascular risk factors
• All men and women age 50 and older with a family history of abdominal aortic aneurysm

Medicare now offers a one-time, no-cost abdominal ultrasound to qualifying seniors within the first 12 months of enrollment. Men or women who have smoked at least 100 cigarettes during their lifetime, as well as men and women with a family history of abdominal aortic aneurysm, also qualify for the Medicare screening.

Some of the same risk factors for a heart attack also increase the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm, including:

• Plaque in the artery walls (atherosclerosis)
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Smoking
• Family history of aortic aneurysm

Treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms continues to evolve by offering patients more sophisticated solutions. The endovascular approach remains a preferred treatment for AAAs.

During an endovascular procedure, the surgeon inserts a stent-graft inside a catheter (a long, thin tube) and guides it to the site of the aneurysm. Once securely in place, the stent-graft creates a new passageway for blood flow without pushing on the aneurysm.

After an endovascular stent-graft is inserted, you must visit your doctor regularly to monitor its position with CT scanning.

For people who are not candidates for endovascular repair, open surgery is an option. During the procedure, a synthetic graft is stitched into place to connect it with the healthy aorta on either side of the diseased area. After surgery, the new synthetic section of the blood vessel functions like a normal, healthy aorta.

Again, your doctor will want to see you regularly to conduct a physical exam and run diagnostic tests. The doctor will use the information gathered from these visits to monitor the progress of your treatment.

If you have been diagnosed with an abdominal aortic aneurysm or have received treatment for an aneurysm, it’s important that you lead a heart-healthy lifestyle. It is up to you to take any prescribed medications, attend follow-up appointments and be an active member of your health care team.

You can help improve your health by:

• Quitting smoking
• Treating high cholesterol
• Managing high blood pressure and diabetes
• Exercising regularly
• Eating a heart-healthy diet
• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Reducing stress and anger
• Taking prescribed medications as directed
• Following up with your doctor for regular visits

In the majority of cases, an abdominal aortic aneurysm develops slowly with no symptoms or only minor symptoms, such as a gnawing feeling around the stomach or a throbbing sensation in the abdomen. This type of aneurysm may be detected in a standard physical exam or through monitoring for another condition.

See Lower Back Pain Symptoms

When an abdominal aortic aneurysm does produce symptoms, the pain and discomfort are usually severe and immediately noticeable.

Symptoms of abdominal aortic rupture can include some combination of the following:

• Abdominal pain. A stabbing pain may be felt deep in the abdomen between the sternum and the belly button. Pain may be described as continuous and is not relieved by rest or changing positions. The pain can be so severe that it causes patients to double over, making it difficult to stand or straighten the upper body.
• Low back pain. Abdominal pain may radiate into the low back due to the aorta’s proximity to the spine. Pain may also spread to the groin, pelvis, or legs.
• Tenderness, pulsing sensation in the abdomen. A pulsating mass in the abdomen may be felt through the skin, and may be sensitive to touch or pressure. A doctor may try to recreate tenderness or pain to confirm the presence of an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
• Low blood pressure. Significant blood loss results in low blood pressure, also called hypotension, which causes lightheadedness/dizziness, nausea or vomiting, blurred vision, and confusion. Symptoms tend to exacerbate when standing, making on feel the need to sit or lie down.
• Symptoms of shock. Internal bleeding caused by a ruptured aneurysm can lead to shock, which includes symptoms such as a sudden and rapid heartbeat, shallow breathing, clammy skin and cold sweats, general weakness, and confusion, agitations or anxiety, and losing consciousness.

See Low Back Pain with Referred Pain

The above symptoms indicate a medical emergency, as symptoms usually develop once the aneurysm has ruptured or is expanding quickly. Patients who experience symptoms should receive prompt medical attention. Delay in treatment can lead to fatal internal bleeding.

I Can Feel Pulse In Stomach

Diagnosing an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Most cases of an abdominal aortic aneurysm are found during screening for another condition. For example, during a routine physical, a doctor may feel by hand (called palpation) along the abdomen and find that the aorta is enlarged, suggesting that further testing is necessary.

See Getting an Accurate Back Pain Diagnosis

If an abdominal aortic aneurysm is suspected, the diagnosis will be confirmed using an imaging test. Diagnostic imaging tests may include one of the following:

• An ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to create an image of the inside of the body. Ultrasounds create live images of the body, showing blood moving through blood vessels and other bodily functions. There is no exposure to radiation from ultrasound screening.
• A CT scan (or computerized tomography) uses x-rays to produce detailed, cross-sectioned images of the body’s internal tissues, and can detect blockage and expansion of the body’s arteries.
• An angiography uses dye injected into the bloodstream and a standard imaging test (CT, X-ray, or ultrasound) to visualize blood vessels in the body and identify any abnormalities.

See Introduction to Diagnostic Studies for Back and Neck Pain

One-time screening for an abdominal aortic aneurysm is recommended for men over age 65 who have ever smoked cigarettes, even if they have no symptoms. It is up to a doctor’s judgment whether men older than 75, younger male smokers, or women smokers should be screened.¹

References

Visible Pulse In Abdomen

Pulse In Stomach Pregnancy

• 1.US Preventative Services Task Force. Final Recommendation Statement Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: Screening. Published June 2014. Accessed October 18, 2016.