An Older Man With a Large Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm During an interval examination, a new pulsatile mass is detected slightly above the umbilicus of a 72-year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). He has not noticed any abdominal pain or any other new symptoms. HISTORY The patient has had COPD for many years. He has chronic dyspnea on exertion and at rest and a morning cough that produces sputum. He uses a variety of inhalers but does not require oxygen therapy. His forced expiratory volume in 1 second is 1.5 L. In addition, he has essential hypertension, which is reasonably well controlled with low doses of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and a diuretic. He denies angina but is unable to climb 1 flight of stairs.
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