The aorta is a tube which supplies blood to the entire body. ItÕs the main artery of the body. When that aortic wall, and the physiology of the aortic wall is disrupted, blockages can occur, via atherosclerosis, or that process, that degenerative process can lead to gradual dilatation of the aorta. The gradual dilatation of the aorta is an aneurysm. Aortic aneurysms are common in people as they age. What happens is that there arenÕt any real symptoms of an aneurysm, per se. But as it gradually grows, it increases its risk of rupture. Aortic aneurysms can develop symptoms other than rupture. These generally are a global, kind of nagging abdominal pain. They might have back pain. There can be a sensation of tiredness or malaise. Sometimes weÕre concerned about aneurysms or the aneurysm wall becoming infected. Patients at high risk for their aortic wall degenerating into an aneurysm are patients who smoke, patients who have lung disease, patients who have high blood pressure, patients who have a family history or a genetic predisposition to aneurysms. Also, patients who have whatÕs called connective tissue disease. The treatment of aneurysms at UVA involves multiple specialties; vascular surgeons, cardiac surgeons, and interventional radiologists all looking at these aneurysms and determining whether they should be treated with an open operation or whether less invasive endovascular aneurysm repair is feasible.