Details of Aortic Aneurysm Repair

The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body. It leaves the heart and forms an arch. An aneurysm is a bulge that forms in the wall of an artery. It happens when the artery wall weakens. Aneurysms anywhere in the body are dangerous because they can rupture and cause massive internal bleeding.

May include:

• Dull pain or tenderness in the chest
• Cough
• Breathlessness
• Pain in the back, jaw and neck

May include:

• Heart diseases
• Older age
• Family history
• Genetic disorder
• Infection

• Echocardiogram
• CT & MRA (magnetic resonance angiography)
• Chest x-ray

• Open surgery: In this procedure, your doctor opens up the problem site and replaces the damaged portion of your aorta with a synthetic tube called a graft. And In some cases, the doctor also replace the aortic valve with a synthetic valve.
• Endovascular surgery: In this procedure, the weakened portion of the aorta remains in place. Your doctor inserts a tiny, flexible catheter into an artery in your leg and guides the tube up to your aorta. The catheter then deploys a graft that surrounds the vulnerable part of the aorta to strengthen it.
• Emergency surgery: Emergency surgery can sometimes be done to repair an aneurysm that ruptures, though it must be done fast. The risk of a fatal bleeding event is high if bleeding is not treated promptly.

May include:

• Blood clots
• Low blood pressure
• Intense back pain