Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair(AAA Repair)
by
Amy Scholten, MPH DefinitionAbdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair is surgery to fix a bulge in the lower aorta. The bulge is called an aneurysm. The aorta is the largest artery in the body. The abdominal part of the aorta carries blood to the abdomen, pelvis, and legs.
Reasons for ProcedureAAA repair is often done when the aneurysm:
Possible ComplicationsProblems are rare, but all procedures have some risk. The doctor will go over some problems that could happen, such as:
AAA surgery for prevention tends to have better outcomes. Emergency AAA surgery has a lower survival rate. This is due to quick blood loss. Things that may raise the risk of problems are:
What to ExpectThe procedure varies. It can be done before a burst—to prevent problems. It can also be done after a burst—as emergency treatment. The preventive procedure is outlined here. Prior to ProcedureThe surgical team may meet with you to talk about
AnesthesiaThe doctor will give you general anesthesia. You will be asleep. Description of ProcedureThe surgery may be done one of two ways: Open Surgery An incision is made from the breastbone to below the belly button. The aorta is clamped slightly above and below the aneurysm. Any blood clot inside the aorta is removed. An artificial wall is used to strengthen the area. This is called a graft. The graft will be stitched to the normal aorta on either side. Then, the clamps are removed. The wound is closed with stitches. A bandage will be placed over the site. Endovascular Repair A small incision is made in the leg. A stent will be inserted in this incision and into the aorta. It will be moved to the aneurysm. The stent will take pressure off the aorta wall. This will prevent it from bulging or leaking. The incision will then be closed. A bandage will be placed over the site.
How Long Will It Take?About 4 to 6 hours Will It Hurt?Soreness is common after the procedure. Medicine and home care help. Average Hospital StayThe length of the stay varies. It depends on a person's overall health. Post-procedure CareAt the HospitalAfter the procedure, the staff may:
During your stay, the hospital staff will take steps to lower your risk of infection such as:
There are also steps you can take to lower your risk of infection such as:
At HomeRecovery takes about 6 weeks. Physical activity will be limited during this time. Call Your DoctorCall your doctor if you are not getting better or you have:
If you think you have an emergency, call for medical help right away. RESOURCES:American Heart Association http://www.heart.org Society for Vascular Surgery https://vascular.org CANADIAN RESOURCES:Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada http://www.heartandstroke.ca University of Ottawa Heart Institute https://www.ottawaheart.ca References:
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
https://www.dynamed.com/condition/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm-aaa. Accessed August 25, 2021.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Johns Hopkins Medicine website. Available at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm/abdominal-aortic-aneurysm-repair. Accessed August 25, 2021. Aneurysm repair. The Texas Heart Institute website. Available at:
https://www.texasheart.org/heart-health/heart-information-center/topics/aneurysm-repair/. Accessed August 25, 2021. Mei F, Hu K, et al. Retroperitoneal versus transperitoneal approach for elective open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2021 Jun 21;6(6):CD010373. Last reviewed July 2021 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Nicole Meregian, PA Last Updated: 8/25/2021 | ||
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