Aortic aneurysms — bulging, weak spot in your body’s largest artery — can occur in the chest (thoracic aortic aneurysm), in the part of the aorta that travels from the chest into the abdomen (thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm), or in the abdomen (abdominal aortic aneurysm), the most common type of aortic aneurysm.
Englewood Health’s vascular surgeons treat abdominal aortic aneurysms with treatment that is customized to each patient.
Watchful Waiting
Depending on the size of the aneurysm and risk of rupture, careful, routine monitoring of the aneurysm in conjunction with medication to control blood pressure may be the best course of treatment.
Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR)
Used for some thoracic and abdominal aneurysms, in this minimally invasive option the surgeon advances a thin tube through a small incision in the groin to the site of the aneurysm. A mesh tube (stent) is inserted and expanded. This allows blood to flow through the artery without pressure on the aneurysm.
Fenestrated Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (FEVAR)
The aorta has many branches that come off it to bring blood to all parts of the body. If the aneurysm is located near one of of these branches that supplies blood to the kidney or liver, for example, a special type of stent is needed.
Surgeons use a “fenestrated” stent that contains customized openings that let blood to travel from the aorta to the branches that supply vital organs.
Open Surgery
When aneurysms are too large to be treated with EVAR or FEVAR, or if the aneurysm is located near where the aorta joins the heart, open heart surgery may be needed. Surgical repair involves accessing and removing the aneurysm through an opening in the chest or abdomen, then inserting a mesh tube in its place.