" Take care of your body. It's the only place you have to live. "

~JIM ROHN

Vascular Conditions:

Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)

The aorta is the largest artery in your body. When it reaches your abdomen, it is called the abdominal aorta. When a weak area of the abdominal aorta expands or bulges, it is called an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). The pressure from blood flowing through your abdominal aorta can cause a weakened part of the aorta to bulge, much like a balloon. A normal aorta is about 2.5 cm in diameter. Aneurysms are considered health risk because they can burst, or rupture.

Symptoms

    Although you may not feel any symptoms with AAA, if you develop symptoms, you may experience one or more of the following:

    • A pulsing feeling in your abdomen, similar to a heartbeat
    • Severe, sudden pain in your abdomen or lower back. If this is the case, your aneurysm may be about to burst.

    If your aneurysm bursts, you may suddenly feel intense weakness, dizziness, or pain, and you may lose consciousness. This is a life-threatening situation and you should seek medical attention immediately.

Treatment

    Surgical aneurysm repair - We may recommend that you have a surgical procedure called open aneurysm repair if your aneurysm is causing symptoms or is larger than 2 inches, or is enlarging under observation. During an open aneurysm repair, also known as surgical aneurysm repair, we make an incision in your abdomen and replace the weakened part of your aorta with a tube-like graft. This graft is made of man-made material, such as plastic, in the size and shape of the healthy aorta. The tube strengthens your aorta and allows blood to pass easily through it.

    Endovascular stent graft - Instead of open aneurysm repair, your vascular surgeon may consider a newer procedure called an endovascular stent graft. Endovascular means that the treatment is performed inside your body using long, thin tubes called catheters that are threaded through your blood vessels. This procedure is less invasive, meaning that your surgeon will make only small incisions in your groin area through which to thread the catheters. During the procedure, your surgeon will use live xray pictures on a video screen to guide a fabric and metal tube, called a graft, to the site of aneurysm. Like the graft in open surgery, the endovascular stent graft also strengthens the aorta. Your recovery time for endovascular stent graft is much shorter than surgery, and your hospital stay is reduced to 2 to 3 days.

    Call 732-249-0360 for an appointment.