1 Tearing pain in the chest, abdomen, and/or middle of the back between the shoulder blades. 2  Thoracic aneurysms may cause shortness of breath, hoarseness, cough (due to pressure on the lungs and airways), and difficulty swallowing (pressure on the esophagus). thoracic aneurysm may cause a heart murmur. An abdominal aneurysm feels like a pulsating mass in the stomach. If one is detected, it must be monitored. Aneurysms are at higher risk of rupture as they grow larger.