Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA), and other body aneurysms
Aneurysms of the body may be repaired using a minimally invasive technique called stent-grafts. This procedure is sometimes also called EVAR (endovascular aneurysm repair). This is commonly performed for Aortic aneurysms which may be thoracic (in the chest) or abdominal. Other smaller arteries are often repaired with stent grafts. Stent-grafts are inserted through small holes in the accessible arteries such as in the leg. In some, but not all cases, this may require a small incision at the groin, which is much simpler and with much faster recovery than the old-fashioned surgical incision over the abdomen. In other cases, an even simpler puncture is performed which requires no cutting or stitches. The stent graft is placed insider the artery under x-ray guidance.
Typical Experience
- The procedure may be performed in the interventional suite while you are receiving sedation and opiate analgesia (“twilight anesthesia”) or may be performed in the operating room under general anesthesia (“asleep”) depending on various factors.
- Please discuss the details of the planned procedure with your physician, as it may vary between patients and type of problem treated.
- As with any major procedure, minor or major complications are possible. Above is simply a brief description of a typical experience, and a full explanation of the procedure and its risks will be provided when you visit your doctor before the procedure.
How to Prepare
- Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before procedure, except for sips of water with your usual medications.
- Bring your medications and anything you need to stay overnight even if you will most likely be discharged the same day.
- Please take your usual medications except for blood thinners.
- Plan to have somebody else drive you home.
- If you are allergic to X-ray dye (contrast material), please inform our office days in advance and make certain you obtain and take the prescribed pre-medications (Methylprednisolone [prescription] and Benadryl [OTC]).
- For further instructions, please discuss with physician.
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Resources
For more details about this procedure and its possible risks, please schedule an appointment with one of our physicians at 214-827-1600. You may also refer to the following discussions:
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms – Society of Interventional Radiology