Description:
This procedure is used to treat aneurysms of the abdominal aorta.
Weakening of the wall of the aorta can lead to a dilatation of the vessel, or aneurysm. Aneurysms may rupture, causing internal bleeding.
Around 6000 operations on the aorta are carried out each year in England (Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, Department of Health, ungrossed for missing data, 2000/1), most of which are for abdominal aortic aneurysms.
Smaller aneurysms and aneurysms in people considered unfit for surgery may be managed with medical treatment alone. The standard invasive treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysm is open surgical repair. The aneurysm is cut open and a graft is sewn in above and below the weakened area to allow normal blood flow.
Stent-graft placement is a minimally invasive alternative to open surgery. In this technique, the graft is mounted on a stent, which is inserted into the aorta via a catheter in the femoral artery. The stent is opened under X-ray guidance, wedging the graft across the aneurysm.
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