Aortic Aneurysm Repair
The aorta is the largest blood vessel in the body, as it extends from the heart through the middle of the chest and abdomen, so aneurysms in it can threaten a patient's life.
Symptoms of aortic aneurysm:
- Feeling pain in the abdomen and it may move to the back.
- Low blood pressure and increased heart rate.
- The presence of a pulsating mass during the abdominal examination.
- Feeling fever.
- Low weight.
Causes of aortic aneurysm:
There are many reasons that lead to an aortic aneurysm and expand its diameter, the most important of them are:
- Atherosclerosis is a result of the accumulation of fat on the walls of the arteries of the body, which leads to narrowing and blockage of the artery.
- A blockage in the aorta.
- The presence of infections or bacteria in the aorta.
- Genetic factors: Marfan, Ahlers-Danlos, and Turner syndromes, which cause weakening of blood vessel walls.
Other factors that increase the probability of developing an abdominal aortic aneurysm:
- Smoking.
- Overweight and excessive fat accumulation.
- Increased level of cholesterol in the blood.
- Syphilis disease.
- Hypertension.
What are the complications of an aortic aneurysm?
Abdominal aortic aneurysm complications may occur, such as rupture in the artery wall or its explosion, which is a serious condition and it requires immediate emergency, as it may lead to internal bleeding.
How is an aortic aneurysm diagnosed?
An aortic aneurysm is diagnosed using chest and abdominal ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging to identify the diameter of the aneurysm in the arteries or by using a CT scan, which is one of the best methods for diagnosing aortic aneurysm because it accurately determines the location and extent of the aneurysm in the arteries. Dr.Waleed El-Daly, is the best vascular surgeon, he recommends that the patient should do an early examination to detect the presence of any symptoms of the aneurysm before exposure to the arteries rupture or high blood pressure.
How can you prevent an aortic aneurysm?
To prevent the disease, you must know the causes of this disease and the risk factors, after that, you should avoid them to prevent this disease, here are the most effective prevention steps that you should follow:
- Avoid smoking.
- Control blood glucose and cholesterol level.
- Commitment to regular exercise.
- Everyone over the age of 60, especially men, should do an ultrasound every 5 years to measure the size of the aorta.
How is an aortic aneurysm repaired?
It is done under general anesthesia, and during surgery the vascular surgeon makes a very small opening near the groin to find the artery, and he inserts the metal stent through the cut of the artery, then a dye is used to determine the extent of the aneurysm, after that the stent is encased inside the catheter to isolate the aneurysm from the entire bloodstream, finally the patient needs 48 hours to stay in the hospital, and he can return to his normal life, but the patient needs to perform periodic follow-up and a CT scan to ensure that the stent is working well.
Surgery intervention cases:
Your vascular surgeon will recommend surgical interventions in these cases:
- If the aneurysm is larger than 5 cm or about 2 inches.
- If the dilation has grown more rapidly over the past 6 to 12 months.
- If the patient has other serious medical problems or is elderly.
You should choose a skilled and well-experienced vascular surgeon such as Dr.Waleed Al-Daly, he is the best vascular surgeon to perform the aortic aneurysm repair surgery to avoid any risks or complications that may occur after the surgery, such as:
- The occurrence of blood clots in the legs that may move to the lungs.
- Breathing problems.
- Occurrence of lung infections or urinary tract infections.
- Occurrence of heart attack or stroke.
- A blockage in the stent.
- Damage to the nerve may lead to weakness or pain in the leg.
- Poor blood flow to the leg or kidneys.
- Slip off the stents.
Before undergoing aortic aneurysm repair surgery:
The vascular surgeon will perform a comprehensive examination before the surgery, and the patient must tell the vascular surgeon about the medications he is taking, and if the patient is a smoker, he must stop smoking completely before the surgery. The doctor may also ask the patient to stop taking medications that increase blood flow, such as:
aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), clopidogrel (Lavix), warfarin (Coumadin), and naproxen (Aleve, Naproxin).
After the aortic aneurysm repair surgery, most patients stay in the hospital for a few days, and in most cases, they can recover faster and their feeling of pain is decreased.
What happens after the aortic stent placement?
The patient must follow the instructions prescribed by the vascular surgeon, and perform a CT scan after a month of the surgery, and every year to make sure that the stent is placed properly inside the artery, but if the stent has moved out of place or an internal leak is detected in the artery, the patient may need a stent repair or replacement.
Where can an aortic aneurysm be repaired by stents placement?
Dr.Waleed El-Daly is an assistant professor of vascular surgery at Cairo University, he is the best vascular surgeon in stents placement and catheter surgeries. He held a Ph.D. in vascular surgery in 2010, also held the fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons in England in 2009, a fellowship from Kiel University in Germany for dilatation of peripheral arteries with therapeutic catheterization, a fellowship at Colin University in Germany for aortic stents placement, and the master of surgery in 2005.
If you suffer from an aortic aneurysm, it is necessary to book your appointment now with Dr. Waleed El-Daly, assistant professor of vascular surgery and diabetic foot treatment at Cairo University, who will choose the best treatment solution to help you to avoid any complications, and recover faster.
