Angioplasty & Stent Placement

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair – Open

Open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair is surgery to fix a widened part in your aorta, called an aneurysm. Theaorta is the large artery that carries blood to your belly (abdomen), pelvis, and legs. An aortic aneurysm is when part of this artery becomes too large or balloons outward.

Why the Procedure is Performed

Open surgery to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm is sometimes done as an emergency procedure when there is bleeding inside your body from the aneurysm.

You may have an abdominal aortic aneurysm that is not causing any symptoms or problems. Your doctor mayhave found the problem after you had an ultrasound or CT scan done for another reason. There is a risk that thisaneurysm may suddenly break open (rupture) if you do not have surgery to repair it. However, surgery to repairthe aneurysm may also be risky, depending on your overall health.

You and your doctor must decide whether the risk of having this surgery is smaller than the risk of rupture. The doctor is more likely to recommend surgery if the aneurysm is:

• Larger (about 2 inches or 5 cm)
• Growing more quickly (a little less than 1/4 inch over the last 6 to 12 months)

The risks for this surgery are higher if you have:

• Heart disease
• Kidney failure

Risks for this surgery are:

• Bleeding around the graft that needs more surgery
• Blockage of the stent
• Kidney failure
• Poor blood supply to your legs, your kidneys, or other organs
• Surgery is not successful and you need open surgery
• The stent slips