The Influence of Wall Stress on AAA Growth and Biomarkers

In the decision for surgical repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs), the risk of rupture is weighed carefully against the risk of the surgical procedure. The risk of rupture is estimated based on the maximum diameter and the growth rate of the AAA. Previous studies indicate that AAA growth rate increases with the diameter of the AAA [1, 2]. However, this growth rate is not the same for each AAA, as some AAA’s remain stable over a long period of time, while others show a fast growth or grow discontinuously.