• The Abdominal Aorta is the main blood vessel of the body that emerges from the heart and supplies blood to the organs of the body. A normal aorta is a tube like structure with branches for various organs emerging from its sides. 
  • An Aortic Aneurysm is the term used for a portion of the aorta which gets enlarged or balloons up to ≥1.5 times its normal diameter. This usually occurs due to weakness in the wall of the aorta.
  • Aneurysms may occur in any portion of the aorta, most common being the abdomen. The larger the size of the aneurysm, the more likely it is to start leaking or rupture. An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a like a time-bomb in the abdomen, which can explode anytime, leading to immediate death.
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Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
  • The outcome is often good if treatment is done timely before it ruptures. When an abdominal aortic aneurysm begins to tear or ruptures, it is a surgical emergency. Only about 1 in 100 people survive a ruptured abdominal aneurysm. can develop slowly over many years, often with no symptoms. Symptoms may occur all of a sudden if the aneurysm expands rapidly or tears open.  Most asymptomatic patients are diagnosed for having an abdominal aneurysm incidentally, during checkups for other medical problems.
  • Ultrasound of the abdomen and a CT angiogram help in planning treatment of an aneurysm. Aneurysms of size greater than 4.5cm -5cm need to be treated, as the risk of rupture increases significantly after this size. The goal is to do treatment before complications develop.
    • A CT Angiography showing Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
  • Treatment may be done surgically or by Endovascular methods which include EVAR – Endo Vascular Aneurysm Repair.
  • Surgery for aortic aneurysm requires a large incision on the abdomen, after which the aneurysm is excluded and a bypass done with an artificial graft. The Endovascular treatment (EVAR) is minimally invasive, avoids a major surgery and facilitates early recovery. This involves exclusion of the aneurysm by placement of a stent graft (a hollow tube having a fabric incorporated with metal stent) from within the vessel using access through a small cut on the upper thigh region.
    • An Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) before treatment
    EVAR Procedure for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
    After Endovascular treatment with EVAR
    Types of EVAR procedure for different types of Aortic Aneurysm

    A Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon specialises in all these endovascular treatments, and these procedures are done in highly specialised Hybrid Vascular Cath Labs.