 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
What is an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm?
The aorta is the main blood vessel originating in from the heart. It brings blood from the heart to all of the organs in the body. When the aorta is abnormally dilated, it is called an aneurysm.An abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is an abnormally dilated aorta below the arteries that supply the kidneys. If left untreated, some aneurysms continue to expand until they rupture or burst. This can be a life-threatening or fatal event. In fact, aneurysm ruptures occur in 15,000 patients per year making it the 13th leading cause of death in the U.S. The goal of aneurysm operations is to prevent the aorta from rupturing.
Aneurysms are four times more common in men than women and occur most often after 55-60 years of age. The incidence of aortic aneurysm disease is increasing as the population grows older. Early detection and diagnosis is increasingly possible as more sophisticated medical screening methods become available.
Causes and Symptoms of Aneurysms
Aneurysms are caused by a weakening or damage in the wall of a blood vessel. High blood pressure, atherosclerosis, smoking, and infection may cause weakening of the artery wall leading to formation of an aneurysm.Seventy-five per cent of aneurysms show no symptoms at the time they are diagnosed. An abdominal aortic aneurysm growing rapidly may cause back or abdominal pain. Aneurysms with impending rupture may cause pain as well as shaking, dizziness, fainting, sweating, rapid heartbeat, and sudden weakness indicating shock.
Diagnosis of Aneurysms
Abdominal aortic aneurysms can be found during a routine physical examination as a pulsating mass near the level of the belly button. Some aneurysms of the abdominal aorta may not be felt during physical examination if the patient is large or overweight. Aneurysms may be diagnosed with non-invasive imaging tests such as ultrasound, CAT scans or MRI.Treatment Options
Abdominal aortic aneurysms can be treated either with traditional open surgery or with a minimally invasive stent-graft procedure.Open Surgery
Traditional open surgery requires a large abdominal wall incision to expose the aorta, which is located behind the intestines, just anterior to the spine. A graft made of synthetic tubing is then sewn to the aorta below the kidneys and to the arteries going to each leg. The aneurysm sac is then closed over the graft so the synthetic tubing does not come in contact with the intestines or other organs of the body.Aortic Stent-Grafting Procedure
Aortic Stent-Graft repair of aortic aneurysms is a minimally invasive procedure which requires only two small incisions in the groin. Using X-Ray guidance, catheters made of plastic tubing 7-10 mm in diameter are guided through the femoral arteries into the aortic aneurysm. A stent-graft device is then deployed inside the aneurysm, excluding it from the flow of blood.Fewer Medical Complications
The minimally invasive, stent-graft repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms reduces the incidence of significant medical complications compared with traditional open surgical techniques. Serious medical complications including heart attack, congestive heart failure, and blood loss were reduced with the stent-graft procedure.Shorter Hospital Stay
The hospital stay following traditional open surgery averages six days, with at least 24 hours in an intensive care unit. The hospital recovery after the minimally invasive stent-graft repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm is usually only one to two days. In uncomplicated cases, most patients can go home the day after the procedure.Follow-up
After stent-graft aneurysm repair, follow-up visits including CT scans will be required to ensure that the device is functioning properly. If the aneurysm is successfully repaired, it's diameter should decrease or remain unchanged. Sometimes, a small amount of blood flow to the aneurysm sac remains, which is, termed an endoleak. Infrequently, these endoleaks can be significant enough to allow continued expansion of the aneurysm. Follow-up CT scans are a very important part of the procedure to monitor the diameter of the aneurysm and determine if an endoleak is present which may require further therapy.Links: Home Page | Our Doctors | Varicose Veins | Uterine Fibroid Embolization | Angiograms | Angioplasty | Verterbroplasty | Stent Grafts | TIPS | Dialysis Access | Venous Access | Chemo-Embolization | Clinic Location | Appointments | Insurance | Our Team | Site Map
