Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) repair is a surgical procedure performed to treat an abdominal aortic aneurysm—a bulging and weakened area in the aorta, the main blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. If an AAA is left untreated, it can continue to enlarge and may eventually rupture, which can lead to life-threatening internal bleeding.

There are two primary methods of AAA repair:

• Open Surgical Repair: This traditional approach involves making a larger incision in the abdomen to directly access the aneurysm. The surgeon then replaces the weakened segment of the aorta with a synthetic graft, which reinforces the aorta and prevents further expansion of the aneurysm.
• Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR): EVAR is a less invasive alternative to open surgery. Instead of a large abdominal incision, the surgeon makes small incisions in the groin area and guides a stent-graft through the blood vessels to the site of the aneurysm. The stent-graft is then deployed within the aorta, providing a new pathway for blood flow and excluding the aneurysm from circulation.

Advantages of EVAR include shorter hospital stays, faster recovery times, and lower rates of certain complications compared to open surgery. However, not all patients are suitable candidates for EVAR, and the choice of procedure depends on various factors, including the size and shape of the aneurysm, the patient's overall health, and the surgeon's expertise.