Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)

An AAA is a balloon like bulge in the aorta, which is the artery that carries blood directly from the heart to other parts of the body. The bulge forms at a weak place in the vessel wall. A ruptured AAA can be fatal.

Procedures Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Carotid Endarterectomy /Carotid Artery Stenting Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG) Endovenous Laser Therapy(EVLT) Heart Valve Repair/ Replacement Surgery Lung Surgery Vascular Studies

Anyone can have an AAA, but certain factors increase the risk that an AAA will form or rupture. Rick factors include:

• Having a close relative (parent, brother or sister) who has had an AAA
• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• Having blood vessel disease in another part of the body
• Men over age 55 and women over age 65

Treatment Options

An AAA can be repaired with endovascular repair or open surgery. Both methods involve placing an artificial graft inside the damaged artery.

Endovascular repair uses small incisions in the groin. The graft is inserted into an artery through an incision and guided to the aneurysm.

Open surgery involves a single large incision in the abdomen. The graft is then sewn into the artery above and below the aneurysm.