Abdominal aortic aneurysm

By: Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., MD
February 28, 2001

While low back pain rarely radiates to the abdomen, abdominal disorders can often extend to the back and be felt as acute low back pain. This process happens in an abdominal aortic aneurysm, which represents an enlargement of the aorta (large artery) in the abdomen.

In the elderly population this is not uncommon and rarely is symptomatic. However, if the enlarged blood vessel begins to leak blood or ruptures it can cause severe, unremitting abdominal and back pain.Patients with these symptoms need to seek medical care immediately. If the blood loss is large enough, it will lead to hypotension (low blood pressure), unconsciousness, or death.

Peter F. Ullrich, Jr., MD
February 28, 2001