An aortic aneurysm is an abnormal widening or ballooning of a portion of the major artery from the heart, related to weakness in the wall of the blood vessel.
There are two main types of aortic aneurysms:
- Thoracic aortic aneurysms occur in the upper aorta, or the chest
- Abdominal aortic aneurysms occur in the section of the aorta in the abdomen
Most aneurysms are either congenital or acquired. While it's not clear exactly what causes aneurysms, defects in some of the components of the artery wall may be responsible. In certain cases, like abdominal aortic aneurysms, high blood pressure and the buildup of cholesterol in the arteries (atherosclerotic disease) are thought to be contributing factors.
Physical exam, ultrasound examination, and CT scan are used to evaluate aneurysms.
Minimally invasive stent-grafts
At MedStar Health, our surgeons are now using stent-grafts to repair thoracic aortic aneurysms. This minimally invasive procedure uses a stent-graft device—a cloth-covered metal frame—that is expanded within the aorta to alleviate pressure in the aneurysm sac and strengthen the artery wall. The procedure is performed through one small incision in the groin area, rather than large incisions in the chest or abdomen, and uses local anesthesia. This procedure generally requires a one-night hospital stay, compared to 7 to 14 days for major surgery, and has high success rates and less recovery time.
MedStar Health’s expertise with stent-graft repair of abdominal aortic and thoracic aortic aneurysms is unparalleled in the Mid-Atlantic region. We are one of the few FDA-designated research sites in the country, so you can take comfort in our experience and expertise.
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Ask MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute
Have general questions for our heart and vascular program? Email us at AskMHVI@medstar.net. If you have clinically-specific questions, please contact your physician’s office.