Because an abdominal aortic aneurysm causes hardly any complaints, it is usually discovered by incidence during a routine ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs. If an aneurysm has been detected in your case, it is important to determine the exact location, size and extent of the aneurysm. We use modern ultrasound equipment for this purpose.
In case of smaller aneurysms, we control the size of the abdominal artery closely and observe its growth. It is possible that in these cases a change of lifestyle is sufficient to prevent further growth of the bulge. High blood pressure and smoking are among the significant risk factors. We will discuss the necessary therapeutic measures with you in detail.
From a diameter of 5 centimetres, an aneurysm is usually operated on. With this size, the risk of tearing the vessel wall is greater than the risk of the operation.
Surgical treatment
We carry out the following two therapy methods with great experience:
- Exclusion of aneurysms through stent implantation
Larger bulges are bridged with a so-called stent - a support that prevents the artery from tearing. The stent is advanced via the inguinal artery to the aneurysm with the help of a catheter and inserted. Since this is a minimally invasive procedure, general anesthesia or intensive care is usually not necessary. If you feel well, you can go home again after three or four days, fully recovered. Unfortunately this procedure is not always possible for every patient with an aneurysm. - Open surgery
Alternatively, the aneurysm can be operated in the classical way. In this case we remove the diseased vascular segment through an incision and insert a prosthesis or the body's own vein as a replacement. This procedure has very good long-term results and is possible for almost every patient.
Area of expertise
Our specialists guarantee a comprehensive vascular surgical treatment of aneurysms. We specialise in complex endovascular procedures, which we perform in a specially equipped operating theatre (hybrid operation theatre). These procedures include:
- Elimination of aneurysms and dissections of the thoracic aorta with involvement of the aortic arch
- Treatment of the entire thoracic and abdominal aorta (thoracoabdominal aneurysms) with individually customised stent prostheses
Which procedure is most suitable for you depends on many factors, which we will clarify and discuss with you in detail.