E-mail pageAbdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair
Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) result from the expansion of a weakened aorta like a balloon. An aneurysm seldom causes symptoms, but can be a deadly condition if it ruptures. Fortunately, aneurysms can be treated with a variety of procedures depending on their size, location and specific characteristics.
At the University of Chicago Medical Center, we offer a full range of procedures -- both minimally invasive and open repairs -- to treat aortic and peripheral vascular aneurysms. Our vascular surgeons carefully evaluate each patient to select the best approach. In many cases, our surgeons can offer minimally invasive procedures (laparoscopic or endovascular) that provide several benefits over traditional, open surgery. Compared to open surgery, the advantages of minimally invasive aneurysm repair include a shorter hospital stay, less pain, a quicker recovery and minimal scarring.
While not every person is a candidate for minimally invasive abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, our surgeons are frequently able to offer it to people who have been turned down for minimally invasive repair at other hospitals. This is because University of Chicago vascular surgeons are highly trained in complex vascular procedures and have access to the latest devices and surgical instruments. Our vascular surgeons are core members of the University of Chicago Aortic Specialty Team (UCAST), a multidisciplinary group of experts that provide focused care for aortic disease.
Types of Aneurysm Repair
Open Repair
This is the standard approach to repairing aneurysms, and requires a long incision down the abdomen. The surgeon removes the weakened part of the aorta and sews an artificial tube-shaped artificial graft into place to enable proper blood flow. Depending upon the case, patients typically spend a few days in the hospital and fully recover within six weeks to three months.
In open AAA repair, the surgeon accesses the aneurysm through a long abdominal incision and sews the artificial graft into place to maintain proper blood flow.Endovascular Repair
Endovascular means the treatment is done from within the blood vessel. The physician uses a long, thin catheter that is inserted into a vessel in the groin, and then threaded up into the aorta. A small, flexible tube -- called a stent or endograft -- is guided through the catheter and inserted into the aorta to strengthen it. These procedures are performed in our state-of-the-art endovascular suite that is equipped with the latest imaging technology.
In an endovascular aneurysm repair, the artificial stent graft is inserted into an artery through a catheter and is then placed within the AAA to reinforce the vessel walls.Because endovascular repair does not require large incisions, the hospital stay is only one to two days, recovery is much quicker than open repair and there are no large incisions. Patients who have endovascular aneurysm repair will need to make regular follow-up visits for CT imaging exams to make sure that the graft is working properly. While endovascular repair is a good option for many people, it is associated with a greater need for maintenance procedures than open aneurysm surgery.
Hand-Assisted Laparoscopic Repair: Combining the Best of Both Worlds
Laparoscopic aneurysm repair gives the surgeon the ability to easily see and operate on the aneurysm (like open repair) but smaller incisions (like endovascular repair). By marrying the best of both techniques, our surgeons can offer long-standing solutions to abdominal aortic aneurysms without the extended recovery associated with open repair. This advanced approach is not available at most hospitals, and requires special surgical training and instruments.
At the University of Chicago, surgeons use special thin instruments -- called laparoscopes -- to insert a tiny camera into the abdomen to see the aneurysm and to perform some steps of the surgery, while other steps require the surgeon to insert a hand to access critical areas and to ensure that the new artificial graft is properly in place. Incisions are smaller (10-12 cm), compared to traditional open surgery. Our surgeons were among the first in the nation to use a special device called the Gelport® laparoscopic system, which maintains insufflation (air in the abdominal cavity, a requirement for laparoscopic surgery) and gives surgeons easier direct access to the aorta with both the laparoscope and the hand.
Our laparoscopic aneurysm patients typically spend no more than three nights in the hospital and are back to work or other activities within 14 days.
More Information
- Why Choose Us?
- Services Offered
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
- Carotid Artery Disease
- Peripheral Artery Disease
- Vein Clinic
