An Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm is an aneurysm located in the abdominal aorta. The most common cause of aortic aneurysms is atherosclerosis.
Most patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm do not have any symptoms. Usually, when the aneurysm ruptures you may experience the following symptoms:
- Pain in the abdomen groin, back, legs or buttocks
- Nausea and vomiting
- Clammy, sweaty skin
- Lightheadedness
- Loss of consciousness
- Rapid heart rate
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm endovascular repair is usually recommended if conservative treatment measures have failed to relieve the symptoms or if there is a risk of rupture due to the size of the aneurysm.
During an endovascular repair procedure, the patient is placed lying on their back on an X-ray table. A tiny cut will be made over the insertion site in your groin and a small tube called a catheter will be inserted into the artery.
With the help of X-ray imaging, the physician slowly advances the catheter to the site of the aneurysm. The catheter contains a stent graft made of fabric with metal stents. The stent graft helps to decrease pressure on the aneurysm site by directing blood through the graft.
After the procedure X-rays are taken to make sure the stent graft is in place and no blood is leaking. The graft is expanded and held in place against the artery wall using small hooks or pins. The catheter will be removed and the incision in your groin will be closed.