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• Female gender
• Larger diameter at diagnosis
• Current smoker
• Severe COPD

The Joint Council of the American Association for Vascular Surgery (JCAAVS) and Society for Vascular Surgery notes that the risk of rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm is substantially increased when the diameter increases from 5 cm. to 6 cm. They recommended that a diameter 5.5 cm. be considered as the threshold for elective surgical repair in the average patient. It should be noted, however, that each individual should be evaluated for relative risk based on factors outlined above as well as body habitus (e.g., for women 4.5 cm. - 5 cm. should be considered as the cutoff whereas for large men, the cutoff may be close to 6 cm.).

In addition to the risk of rupture, other complications of an abdominal aortic aneurysm may include:

• Aortic Dissection - the lining of the artery tears and blood leaks into the wall of the artery

• Hypovolemic shock (decrease in the volume of circulating blood as a result of hemorrhage).

• Arterial embolism - obstruction or occlusion of a vessel by a blood clot.

• Insufficient circulation past the aneurysm leading to intermittent claudication (lameness due to pain in leg muscles because the blood supply is inadequate).

• Kidney damage

• Myocardial infarction (heart attack)

• Stroke