Incidentally Detected Aortic Aneurysm in the Intensive Care Unit: Our Experience and the Lessons Learnt

Most aortic aneurysms are detected incidentally in patients presenting for other illnesses. The prevalence of thoracic aortic aneurysms is in the order of 3-4% in individuals older than 65 years. Aneurysms of the thoraco-abdominal aorta are primarily due to atherosclerotic degenerative disease (80%) and due to chronic aortic dissection in the remaining 20%. The morbidity and mortality from aortic aneurysms is significant and death from aneurysmal rupture is one of the fifteen leading causes of death in most series.