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It is estimated that as many as 10% of men 70 years or older have an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). Rupture of an AAA is the 15th leading cause of death in the United States, and 10th leading cause of death in men over 55. Until recently, the only method of preventing aneurysm rupture was major surgery to replace the dilated aorta with a tube of artificial material (graft). This surgery is very effective, but it requires a long incision and a hospitalization of about one week.
Surgeons now have a new option to treat these aneurysms. It is called endovascular stent-grafting. Using this technique, the surgeon can repair the aneurysm by placing the graft inside the aneurysm through small incisions in the groin area. The grafts are packaged tightly into a small plastic tube, and using X-ray guidance, placed into the aorta to bypass the aneurysm. The outer tube, or sheath, is withdrawn, the graft is expanded, and the aneurysm is then fixed.
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Before and after stent placement
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Most patients can go home the next day, and without the recovery problems that can go along with major surgery. The vascular surgeons and interventional radiologists at Southwestern have formed a multidisciplinary vascular team to perform stent graft repair of AAAs. There are two stent graft devices available for use in the United States, and we are trained in the use of both. This procedure is also available to our Veteran patients at the Dallas VA Medical Center. For more information about this new procedure, please call us at 214-645-0538.
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Multidisciplinary Surgical Team which includes a Vascular Surgeon and an Interventional Radiologist performing an AAA Stent Graft Procedure.
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