AAA rupture presents with acute, severe, tearing back or abdominal pain, that can radiate to the flank, buttocks, legs, or groin depending on whether rupture is intraperitoneal or retroperitoneal. Nausea and vomiting secondary to peritoneal irritation and severe blood loss and hypotension can be present.
A painful pulsatile abdominal mass that is synchronic with heart rate is highly suspicious for AAA. Abdominal pulsation may be most significant slightly to the left of midline.
Grey Turner sign represents flank ecchymosis secondary to blood dissecting between fascial planes in the retroperitoneum. The bruising appears as a blue or purple discoloration in the flanks, and is a sign of retroperitoneal bleeding. It is classically seen in patients with pancreatitis, but is also often apparent in AAA rupture.
Cullen sign is similar to Grey Turner sign, except that the bleeding is intraperitoneal. This appears as periumbilical ecchymosis. This can occur with anterior abdominal aneurysm ruptures.
Extensive blood loss due to free AAA rupture into the peritoneal cavity can result in hypovolemic shock secondary to the hemorrhage. In some cases a hematoma can form following rupture sealing the retroperitoneum, leading to a contained rupture which can be less symptomatic. Hypovolemic shock due to extensive blood loss produces hypovolemia and cerebral hypoperfusion leading to altered mental status.
Ruptured AAA is a clinical diagnosis. Only consider imaging in hemodynamically stable patients if the diagnosis is uncertain. Ultrasound or CT angiography may be helpful in these cases. Otherwise, most patients with present with anemia and metabolic acidosis on stat labs.
Emergency surgical repair within 90 minutes is indicated in unstable patients. Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is recommended over open surgical repair (OSR) if anatomically feasible.
The prognosis for patients who present with rupture of AAA is extremely poor. Mortality rates are above 80%. Prevention and screening with ultrasound are paramount in this disease.
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