Question:

What is the cutoff for surgery in an abdominal aortic aneurysm in asymptomatic patients?

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Elective repair when an asymptomatic AAA exceeds 5.5 cm, or if symptomatic / rapidly expanding.
Updated On: Jun 23, 2026
  • 5.5 cm
  • 6.5 cm
  • 7.5 cm
  • 8.5 cm
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The Correct Option is A

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a focal dilatation of the abdominal aorta. The risk of rupture rises sharply with increasing diameter, so size guides the decision to operate.
Step 2: For asymptomatic aneurysms, elective repair (open prosthetic graft or endovascular stent graft) is indicated once the maximum diameter exceeds \(5.5\,\text{cm}\), because beyond this point the annual rupture risk outweighs the operative risk.
Step 3: Repair is also indicated regardless of size when the aneurysm is symptomatic or is expanding rapidly (for example, more than about 0.5 cm in 6 months).
Step 4: The larger cutoffs (6.5, 7.5, 8.5 cm) are incorrect because waiting that long greatly increases the chance of fatal rupture before repair. Hence option A (5.5 cm) is correct.
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