How are abdominal aortic aneurysms treated?

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How are abdominal aortic aneurysms treated?

Treatment depends on the size of the aneurysm. Aneurysms that are less than five centimeters in diameter have a low risk of rupturing and may not need treatment right away. Your healthcare provider may recommend “watchful waiting,” which includes:

  • Getting ultrasounds every few months to make sure the aneurysm isn’t getting bigger.
  • Making lifestyle adjustments, such as exercising, not smoking, eating a healthy diet, avoiding alcohol and maintaining a healthy weight.
  • Taking medication to lower your blood pressure.

No known medication, supplement or other treatment can shrink an aneurysm once it has formed. The goal of the measures above is to keep your aneurysm from growing and identify which people have a high risk of rupture, meaning they would benefit from surgery to treat their AAA.

Surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysm

Aneurysms that are larger than five centimeters across or that show signs of rupturing need surgery. Depending on the size, location and complexity of your aneurysm, your healthcare provider may recommend:

  • Open surgery: A surgeon makes an incision in your belly to gain access to your abdominal aorta. They sew a graft (tube made of a strong, synthetic material) onto the bulging section of the aorta. The graft reinforces the aneurysm to prevent a rupture. After open surgery, you stay in the hospital between four and 10 days. It can take several months to recover.
  • Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR): EVAR is a minimally invasive aneurysm repair surgery. A surgeon makes a small incision in your groin and inserts a catheter (thin, flexible tube) into an artery. With X-ray guidance, they thread the catheter up to the location of the aneurysm. The catheter contains an expandable stent that opens up inside your aorta to reinforce the aneurysm and prevent a rupture. After EVAR, you stay in the hospital for about three days. Recovery is shorter than that of open surgery.

After either type of aneurysm repair, it’s critical that you continue to follow up with your provider for surveillance of your repaired aorta. This again can be done with ultrasound or CT.

What are the risks of surgery?

Minimally invasive surgery has a lower chance of complications than open surgery, but risks still include:

  • Bleeding.
  • Infection.
  • Pain.
  • Reaction to anesthesia.

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