Surgical treatment options
Elective surgical intervention can prevent aneurysm ruptures
Aortic aneurysms cause a bulge in a section of the aorta and result in a weakening of the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the body. As this bulge increases in size, the risk of rupture and internal bleeding also increases. Doctors determine the need for surgical intervention based on weighing the risk of rupture versus the risks of surgery.
The aorta is the body's largest artery and carries blood flow from the heart to all vital organs, and eventually to the legs and feet. Aortic aneurysms are caused by a progressive weakening of the aortic wall which results in a dilatation, or "ballooning" of the vessel. The aneurysm will grow progressively larger and eventually rupture if it is not diagnosed and treated. When an aortic aneurysm ruptures it is a surgical emergency. In fact, ruptured aortic aneurysm are the 13th leading cause of death in the US, accounting for more than 15,000 deaths each year.
On the other hand, when aortic aneurysms are diagnosed early and treated electively before a rupture occurs, treatment is safe, effective, and curative. New, less invasive catheter-based technologies using endovascular grafting have made treatment less complicated. It is clear that with the combination of effective diagnosis and the modern treatment of aortic aneurysms, countless lives lost due to aneurysm rupture can be avoided.
The Center for Aortic Disease is one of a few centers using neuromonitoring to reduce the risk of complications from stroke during repair procedures. Read more.
Learn about surgical treatment options for treatment of aortic conditions:
To schedule an appointment at the Center for Aortic Disease, please call 410-328-4771.
This page was last updated: November 13, 2013