Aortic aneurysms can occur in the chest and/or the abdomen, where a “bulge” develops in the blood vessel wall that can rupture and result in death if left untreated. Fortunately, with timely detection, aneurysms can be surgical repaired to stop and decrease swelling and prevent rupture.

In a traditional open aortic aneurysm repair, the vascular surgeon must penetrate the patient’s skin deeply, which may cause substantial blood loss and requires the patient to undergo a general anesthetic that may not wear off for several hours after surgery. Although effective, open repair may cause patients post-operative pain, requiring narcotic analgesics that can prolong drowsiness and, perhaps, nausea. Most patients must remain in the hospital for five to seven nights following open repair and may need approximately two months’ recovery time at home before resuming work and other activities.

Over the past several years, endovascular aortic aneurysm repair has matured as a minimally effective approach that is just as effective as open repair yet offers patients several advantages. The vascular surgeon only needs to make small incisions – mere punctures. Patients have their choice of several anesthetics, including a local at the incisions that wears off shortly after surgery. Patients experience little if any post-operative discomfort, which can be eased with common oral medication. Patients are usually discharged from the hospital the next day and can resume normal activities much sooner.

Through small incisions in the groin area on both of the patient’s legs, the vascular surgeon accesses the femoral arteries to deliver a stent-graft into the aneurysm, using special endovascular instruments and precisely guided by a sophisticated imaging system. The surgeon repairs the aneurysm from the inside, assembling the three-piece graft inside the aneurysm, where it is held open and in place by the stent, a long, cylinder-like tube made of a thin metal framework. The surgeon then expands the stent-graft in a spring-like fashion so it attaches and supports the wall of the aorta; this prevents the aneurysm from growing further and may eventually cause it to shrink. Finally, the surgeon closes the small holes made in the femoral arteries with sutures and then the initial incisions. The patient usually wakes up approximately 15 minutes later.

Patients should have their graft watched every six months to a year to make sure that the graft has not shifted its position and broken its seal of attachment if the aneurysm shrinks. Should that happen, the surgeon could easily repair the attachment.

For more information or to make an appointment, please call 1-800-JEFF-NOW.