An aortic aneurysm is a bulge in the wall of the aorta, the body's largest artery. Aneurysms can occur in the chest (thoracic) or abdomen (abdominal). Most grow slowly and cause no symptoms, but if one ruptures, it's life-threatening. Treatment depends on size and growth rate — small aneurysms are monitored, larger ones may need surgical repair.
What's actually going on in research
Research focuses on understanding why aneurysms grow in some people but not others, testing medications that might slow growth, and developing less-invasive repair techniques. Trials are studying statins, blood pressure drugs, and anti-inflammatory medications. Device makers are refining stent grafts that can be placed through small incisions rather than open surgery.
Growth-slowing medications
Several blood pressure and cholesterol medications are being tested to see if they slow aneurysm expansion. Results have been mixed, but trials continue with different drug combinations and patient groups.
Endovascular devices
New stent grafts aim to repair aneurysms in locations that current devices can't reach, including complex aneurysms near branch arteries. These could expand the number of people eligible for minimally invasive repair.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on aneurysm size and location, growth rate, overall health, and whether prior repair attempts have been made.
What types of trials are currently open
- Medication trials — Testing whether drugs like statins, beta-blockers, or other blood pressure medications can slow aneurysm growth in people being monitored.
- Device trials — Testing new stent grafts or surgical techniques for repairing aneurysms, often comparing minimally invasive approaches to open surgery.
- Monitoring studies — Following people with small aneurysms to learn what predicts growth and rupture, helping refine guidelines for when to intervene.
- Imaging studies — Testing whether advanced imaging can better identify aneurysms at high risk of rupture, beyond just measuring size.
- Surgical outcome studies — Comparing different repair techniques or timing of surgery to determine which approaches lead to better long-term outcomes.
Recently added Aortic Aneurysm trials
Share your medical records and samples to help understand blood vessel infections
Vascular infections are uncommon but severe infections involving the arterial wall, vascular grafts, or endografts, and their diagnosis and management remain challenging. The CAIGIS Cohort is an ambispective observational cohort established at Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, to create an integrated clinical research platform and biobank for patients with suspected or confirmed vascular infections. The primary research focus is the diagnosis and characterization of causative pathogens. Conventional microbiological methods and emerging molecular diagnostic technologies will be systematically evaluated, with particular emphasis on blood-based pathogen detection as a form of liquid biopsy and its diagnostic value compared with local tissue or operative specimens. Serial blood samples and tissue specimens, when available, will also be used to investigate biomarkers associated with treatment response and clinical outcomes. Another major focus is the role of molecular imaging, particularly 18F-FDG PET/CT, in the diagnosis and longitudinal assessment of vascular infections. The study will evaluate its diagnostic performance, its added value in patients with inconclusive conventional imaging, and the potential significance of changes in metabolic activity during follow-up for assessing treatment response, residual infection, recurrence, and prognosis. The cohort will further support nested translational studies addressing specific pathogen- and disease-related questions. These include longitudinal characterization of microbial communities in patients with vascular-enteric fistulas; evaluation of the clinical significance and invasive potential of Candida species; investigation of the clinical and biological characteristics of mycobacterial vascular infections; and exploration of pathogen-host interactions within infected vascular tissues. By integrating longitudinal clinical data, microbiological results, molecular diagnostics, PET/CT findings, treatment information, outcomes, and biospecimens, the cohort aims to improve etiological diagnosis, disease stratification, treatment monitoring, prognostic assessment, and understanding of the pathogenesis of vascular infections.
Test two anesthesia medications during aortic repair surgery
The purpose of this study is to compare two intravenous anesthetics, remimazolam and propofol, for their effects on intraoperative hemodynamic stability in patients undergoing thoracic or abdominal endovascular aortic repair. Maintaining blood pressure during these procedures is important to preserve organ perfusion, yet anesthetic-induced hypotension often requires vasopressor support. Since direct comparisons of these two anesthetics on hemodynamic outcomes in this population are limited, this randomized, single-blind, controlled trial will compare the intraoperative vasopressor requirement between the two groups to provide evidence for selecting a more hemodynamically stable anesthetic in these high-risk patients.
Find Aortic Aneurysm trials matched specifically to you
Answer 3 quick questions and we'll show you trials that fit your situation.