THORACIC AORTIC ANEURYSM Your Health

About the Therapy

About Minimally Invasive Endovascular Repair With a Stent Graft

About Endovascular Stent Grafting

An endovascular stent graft is like having a small, metal scaffold inside your aorta. It supports the weak area, so you can get back to living life.

What Is It?

An endovascular stent graft is a synthetic fabric tube (graft) supported by a metal structure (stent). The stent graft helps to bypass the weakened area of your aorta and keep it from rupturing.

The stent graft is designed so that it can be placed inside the damaged area of your aorta, without surgically opening the blood vessel or removing any tissue.
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Benefits and Risks

All treatment and outcome results are specific to the individual patient, and will form part of your consultation with your healthcare professional.

Please consult your healthcare professional for a full list of benefits, indications, precautions, clinical results, and other important medical information that pertains to endovascular stent grafts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Endovascular stent grafting may be an option for some patients. To decide whether or not it’s an option for you, talk to your doctor.
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Next: What Is It?

What Is It?

What Is Endovascular Stent Grafting?

The word endovascular refers to the area inside of a blood vessel such as the aorta. Endovascular stent grafting, or endovascular aortic repair (EVAR), is a newer form of treatment for thoracic aortic aneurysms that is less invasive than open surgery. Endovascular stent grafting uses a device called an endovascular stent graft.

The endovascular stent graft is a synthetic fabric tube (graft) supported by a metal scaffold (stent). During endovascular stent grafting the endovascular stent graft is placed inside your thoracic aorta using a long, thin, soft, plastic tube called a delivery catheter.

Thoracic aortic aneurysms can weaken the aorta, your body’s largest blood vessel. This can develop into a potentially serious heath problem that can be fatal if the aneurysm bursts, causing massive internal bleeding. The endovascular stent is placed inside of your thoracic aorta to help reinforce the blood vessel and prevent the aneurysm from rupturing.

Here is how the endovascular stent graft is placed in your thoracic aorta:

The catheter is inserted into an artery in the leg near the groin
Using advanced imaging methods, the surgeon guides the catheter carrying the stent graft to the area of the aneurysm inside the aorta
Once the stent graft is in position, the surgeon deploys it into place and removes the catheter

Open Surgery and Endovascular Surgery

Endovascular stent grafting and open surgery grafting are both done to prevent a thoracic aneurysm from rupturing.

OPEN-CHEST SURGERY

Open surgery is performed under general anaesthesia. A surgeon first makes a cut in your side. Then, the aneurysm is replaced with a fabric graft that is sewn into place.

Endovascular Surgery

Open-chest surgery is the traditional treatment for repairing a thoracic aortic aneurysm

Endovascular stent grafting may be performed under local or general anaesthesia, depending on the patient. Endovascular stent grafting is considered less invasive than open surgery, because the endovascular stent graft is put into place without open-chest surgery or removing part of your aorta.

Next: Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have been diagnosed as having a thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA), you should discuss with your doctor if endovascular stent grafting is an appropriate treatment option for you. Here are some questions and answers about endovascular stent grafting for you to discuss with your doctor and family members.

Am I a candidate for endovascular stent grafting?
Will endovascular stent grafting cure my condition?
If I have the surgery, how long will it take me to recover?
Can I still play golf?
What are other treatment alternatives for thoracic aortic aneurysm?

Am I a candidate for endovascular stent grafting?

Endovascular stent grafting depends on several factors, including your age, race, physical condition, family history, the condition and size of your aorta, and the location and size of your thoracic aneurysm. Your doctor will perform a medical examination and a series of tests to help decide if endovascular stent grafting is right for you.

Will endovascular stent grafting cure my condition?

When you have a thoracic aortic aneurysm, you will live with it for the rest of your life. The endovascular stent graft may help prevent rupture of your thoracic aneurysm, but you need to be aware of your condition and make necessary lifestyle changes to avoid complications.

If I have the surgery, how long will it take me to recover?

Every individual is different, but after the endovascular stent grafting procedure, you can typically expect to spend 2 to 3 days in the hospital. Complete recovery may take 4 to 6 weeks. Your doctor will give you instructions about what to eat and do before and after the endovascular stent graft surgery.

Can I still play golf?

Some patients can return to their normal activities more quickly than others after endovascular stent graft surgery. Your doctor will let you know which activities you should and should not do.

What are other treatment alternatives for thoracic aortic aneurysm?

If your thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is small, your doctor may recommend periodic exams and prescribe medications and lifestyle changes to reduce high blood pressure, cholesterol levels and smoking habits. If your TAA expands, your treatment alternatives are most likely open-chest surgery or endovascular stent grafting.

Next: Getting an Endovascular Stent Graft

Information on this site should not be used as a substitute for talking with your doctor. Always talk with your doctor about diagnosis and treatment information.