NEW TREATMENTS FOR ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSMS

WHAT IS AN ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSM AND HOW DO I KNOW IF I HAVE ONE?

An Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm or AAA occurs in approximately 5% of the U.S. population, or 1 million in the U.S. today! Ruptures of aneurysms cause approximately 15, 000 – 20, 000 deaths and are the 10th leading cause of deaths in men over 55 annually. Today there are new diagnostic and treatment options available for selected patients resulting in much quicker recoveries and fewer complications.

Risk factors include increasing age, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol diet, tobacco use, and family history. An aneurysm is caused by atherosclerosis (sometimes called “hardening” of the arteries) causing the arterial wall to weaken and bulge – similar to an old radiator hose. Most people have no symptoms, however some may experience vague abdominal or back pain or wounds on their feet from small particles lining the aorta that break off and lodge in the small arteries of the feet. A physician may make the diagnosis by palpating a throbbing mass in the abdomen, which can be confirmed by CT or CAT scan or ultrasound.

WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE ONE?

Not all aneurysms need repair and smaller aneurysms may be followed with routine examinations and ultrasound or CT scans. When aneurysms grow too rapidly or to a certain size, or if patients have pain thought to be related to the aneurysm, surgery is usually recommended.

HOW ARE THEY REPAIRED?

The traditional method has been via a large incision on the abdomen (and groins), an intensive care unit stay, and 7-10 days of hospitalization. Recovery takes several weeks. The newer method is called an endograft repair and is performed through small incisions in the groins. X-ray guidance is used to place a woven polyester tube covered by a metal web into the aneurysm to prevent rupture or prevent plaque from breaking off and traveling downstream. The procedure usually takes 2-4 hours to perform and patients are typically eating and walking the night after the procedure. Most patients go home in 1-2 days after the procedure. Recovery is much less prolonged than with the traditional open procedure.

The delivery catheter is inserted through the vessel in your leg and into the aneurysm.

IN SUMMARY

As the population ages, the number of patients who develop aneurysms is expected to increase. However, new methods of detection and repair are now available resulting in quicker recoveries and fewer complications.

A deployed endograft.