Aortic Aneurysms

An AAA is usually the result of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. In patients who get atherosclerosis, one of the body's first adaptive responses is to enlarge to account for the narrowing that occurs. As further hardening occurs in most blood vessels, the enlargement is minimal and stops, allowing the artery to progress to occlusion. In patients who develop aneurysms, the aorta does not stop dilating. This is especially so in patients who have the tendency in their family history.
Cigarette smoking and high blood pressure are essential risk factors in patients who get AAAs.
As an aneurysm enlarges, it can rupture with increasing frequency. Half of patients who rupture their abdominal aortic aneurysm never reach medical attention. And about half of those do not survive treatment. The risk of rupture dramatically increases once an abdominal aortic aneurysm reaches 5 cm. in diameter. At this time endovascular or surgical intervention is done.
Open surgical repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm has proven durability of 20 plus years with very minimal consequences of long term problems. It does involve an operation with an open repair that typically can require a 6-9 day hospital stay. For most patients, the operative risk is between two and four percent for mortality.
Endovascular repair is another option especially for patients with increased surgical risks. While an endograft has the potential to shorten hospital stays to 1-2 days, and shorten recovery to only days, there are some issues to consider.
Any patient needs to talk throughly about the options with the surgeon or team who would do either procedure. At Berks Vascular Institute, we feel our multidisciplinary approach maximizes your options. We have experience in placing all current endografts allowing some patients to be treated who might not otherwise have anatomy applicable to the endograft technique. Our surgeons are highly trained, continuing our education about new therapies on a regular basis so we can offer the latest and best therapies. For conventional repair, our surgeons have an accumulated experience of over 25 years treating abdominal aortic aneurysms..
Our physicians would be able to better answer questions with a face to face evaluation and consultation.

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