What is Endovascular Repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm?

The aorta is the largest artery in the body. The abdominal part of the aorta is located below the diaphragm. It carries blood to the abdomen, pelvis, and legs. Sometimes, the walls of the aorta weaken and bulge in one area. This is called an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). When the aneurysm reaches a certain size, it may need to be repaired. Endovascular repair of an AAA (EVAR) is done from the inside of the artery. The doctor inserts a stent graft into the area to strengthen it.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm © 2009 Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

This procedure is often done to repair AAA when the aneurysm:

• Causes physical symptoms (eg, abdominal pain)
• Causes complications (eg, clots that travel into the legs)
• Reaches a certain size and position that meets criteria for EVAR
• Has burst—Surgery must be done right away.

EVAR is now the preferred method to treat AAA. EVAR can result in less pain, shorter hospital stay, fewer complications, and faster recovery time compared to open surgery. However, closer follow-up over many years is needed.

Possible Complications

Your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

• Adverse reaction to anesthesia
• Infection
• Bruising or bleeding
• Damage to blood vessels or organs (possibly requiring open surgery)
• Leaking of blood at the graft
• Heart attack
• Blood clots

Factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

• Smoking
• Recent or active infection
• Recent or chronic illness (eg, kidney disease)
• Diabetes
• Old age
• Heart or lung disease
• Bleeding or clotting disorders

Be sure to discuss these risks with your doctor before the procedure.

Call Your Doctor

After you leave the hospital, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

• Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive...