system
Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
A 71-year-old man with hypertension is taken to the emergency department after the sudden onset of stabbing abdominal pain that radiates to the back. He has smoked 1 pack of cigarettes daily for 20 years. His pulse is 120/min and thready, respirations are 18/min, and blood pressure is 82/54 mm Hg. Physical examination shows a periumbilical, pulsatile mass and abdominal bruit. There is epigastric tenderness. Which of the following is the most likely underlying mechanism of this patient's current condition?
assistant
Aortic wall stress