AAA Repair
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Advanced Vascular Solutions
General Surgeons & General Surgeons located in Sebastian, FL & Melbourne, FL
When left untreated, an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) may tear or rupture and lead to a life-threatening condition. Hadi Shalhoub, DO, FACOS, and the team at Advanced Vascular Solutions in Sebastian, Florida, are experts at diagnosing and treating vascular conditions like AAA. They use advanced techniques to perform AAA repair to prevent more serious health issues. To discuss AAA repair with the patient-focused team, call the office or book an appointment online today.
AAA Repair Q & A
What is an abdominal aortic aneurysm?
An abdominal aortic aneurysm, or AAA, is a weakening or bulging in the lower portion of the aorta. Your aorta is a major blood vessel that runs from your heart, through your chest, and into your abdominal area and supplies oxygen-rich blood to the rest of your body.
The bulging of the aorta increases the risk of a tear or rupture of the blood vessel that may cause life-threatening complications.
You may be at greater risk of developing an AAA if you have high blood pressure or atherosclerosis, a buildup of plaque along the blood vessel walls.
What is AAA repair?
AAA repair is a medical procedure that treats an aneurysm at risk of tearing. You may also need an emergency AAA repair if the aorta ruptures or tears.
During the procedure, your vascular surgeon at Advanced Vascular Solutions places a stent graft at the site of your ballooned, weakened, or torn blood vessel to reinforce the wall.
Who needs AAA repair?
The team at Advanced Vascular Solutions determines if you need AAA repair after a consultation. They recommend AAA repair for patients with large aneurysms that are at high risk of tearing or rupturing.
Aneurysms grow slowly over time and don’t cause symptoms during the early stages. However, you may have an enlarged AAA if you’re experiencing stomach or back pain or you feel a pulse near your belly button.
The team at Advanced Vascular Solutions recommends you schedule a consultation if you have these symptoms so they can provide the care you need.
What happens during AAA repair?
AAA repair at Advanced Vascular Solutions is a minimally invasive procedure that focuses on preventing your weakened blood vessel from rupturing.
During the procedure, your vascular surgeon inserts a catheter in a blood vessel in your groin and advances it toward the site of your aneurysm. Your surgeon then places a stent graft to reinforce the blood vessel wall.
Many vascular surgeons perform the standard open AAA repair, which is a more invasive procedure that involves a large incision through your abdomen.
The team at Advanced Vascular Solutions prefers the minimally invasive method because it causes less post-surgical pain and shortens your recovery time.
What happens after AAA repair?
After your AAA repair, you may need to spend a few days at the hospital for monitoring. Once stable, you go home. Full recovery from minimally invasive AAA repair may take up to four weeks. By comparison, recovery following a traditional open AAA repair may take 2-3 months.
Following your surgery, the team has you come to the office to monitor your healing. Then, they schedule routine follow-up exams to monitor your stent graft.
AAA repair may prevent life-threatening complications. To discuss surgical treatment for your AAA, call Advanced Vascular Solutions or book an appointment online today.
