The best method to repair each aneurysm depends upon several factors, including the location and shape of the aneurysm as well as the physical condition of the patient.
1. Traditional Open Surgery
The traditional method involves making a long incision in the skin to open the chest or abdomen (depending upon the area in which the aneurysm occurs). The bulging aortic section is clamped and opened. Dacron tubes are then positioned inside the artery above and below the aneurysm to shore up the vessel and relieve pressure on the bulging vessel wall.
2. Minimally Invasive Repair: Endovascular Grafting
Instead of an open aneurysm repair, your surgeon may consider a newer procedure called an endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR, TEVAR, TA-EVAR). Endovascular means that surgery is performed inside your aorta using thin, long tubes called catheters. You may be eligible for endovascular stent grafting if your abdominal aortic aneurysm has not ruptured and the aneurysm is 5 centimeters or more in size.
Your surgeon will enter through small incisions in the groin, using catheters to guide and deliver a stent-graft through the blood vessels to the site of the aneurysm. X-ray guidance is used to position a graft made of artificial material to the area of the aneurysm. The graft is then expanded inside the aorta and held in place with metallic hooks rather than sutures.
Outcomes for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Treatment at Cleveland Clinic
The Department of Vascular Surgery at Cleveland Clinic is recognized internationally for its leadership in the repair of complex aneurysms and has published many reports concerning the early and late results of management.
With more than 1,500 patients now treated with minimally invasive aneurysm repair, the experience we offer patients requiring abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery is increasingly important. Patients undergoing this approach experience reduced operative morbidity and mortality when the procedure is performed by a skilled team. Increasingly, the minimally invasive approach is becoming the preferred approach, as it reduces complications. For information about Aneurysm Repair Outcomes, click here.
