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Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair (AAA
Repair)
Why
is the doctor performing this surgery? To repair a weakened
portion of the aorta located in the abdomen. The aorta is the largest artery
in the body. It carries oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the
body, including the abdomen. The weakened aorta can balloon out, becoming
thin, large, and fragile. This ballooning is called an aneurysm. As it
progresses, there is risk of rupture, with massive internal bleeding. What
is the surgery? Traditional
AAA Repair is an open-abdomen (or open-chest) surgery. The bulging aneurysm
part of the aorta is removed, an artificial graft is put in its place, and
the remaining aortic end-pieces are reattached to the graft. Alternatively, a
less invasive surgery involves placing a stent graft to cover the aneurysm.
Blood flows thru the stent, entirely bypassing the aneurysm, thus preventing
rupture, and excludes the aneurysm from the circulation. This less invasive
procedure can decrease length of stay and recovery time significantly. Where
is the surgery performed? In the
Operating Room (OR), under general anesthesia. How
long does this surgery take? AAA Repair
usually takes 3-5 hours |
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