The success rate of aortic aneurysm surgery is 95%. However, the figure changes depending on the health condition of the patient, the age, and the additional risk factors that the patient can experience post operation. Nonetheless, attending to the situation immediately after a rupture can prevent death.
Aortic aneurysm surgery is the last option that the doctor prefers. The reason is the risk factors associated with the surgery. These include pain in the abdominal, shock, and in rare cases, internal bleeding. It is due to this because the patient resides in the hospital for several weeks and is under observation. The recovery period is longer and any contradictions post-operation can lead to weakness and a few disabilities that make it impossible for the individual to attend to the regular lifestyle.
The Need For Aortic Aneurysm Surgery
The only situation when physicians opt for an aortic aneurysm surgery is when the patient has a rupture. Other than that, the doctors do not prefer to operate because of high risks involved in the surgery. The other scenario where the doctor recommends the surgery is when an aneurysm measures about 5 centimeters in diameter.
Attending to it in this condition will help in the prevention of rupture and thereby achieve a faster recovery period.
Types of Aortic Aneurysm Surgery
The two types of aortic aneurysm surgery are:
Open Repair Surgery – In this operation, the surgeon places a metal clip across the swelling of an aneurysm. The metal clip acts as a barrier and prevents further expansion of the balloon. It is also helpful in directing the blood away from an aneurysm.
Endovascular Aortic Repair – This operation involves replacement of the infected region with that of a catheter tube. The tube acts as a channel and helps in directing the blood flow from the aorta away from the infected area. Placing of the tube also provides strengthening to the wall of the aorta and its functionality.
Preparing for the Surgery
Before proceeding with the surgery, the doctor will perform a series of tests to identify the location and the size of an aneurysm. Depending on the condition, the surgeon will provide instructions to prepare for the operation. These guidelines include a healthy diet that helps in reducing the blood pressure and procedures to avoid smoking.
Risks Involved in the Surgery
Post aortic aneurysm surgery, an individual experiences pain in the abdominal region, shock, blurred vision, the formation of blood clots, blockage of blood flow to different organs, and internal leakage. It is due to these risks involved that the doctor opts for the surgery as the last method to treat an aorta aneurysm. The patient will stay in the hospital for a few weeks and can continue for a month or more depending on the recovery rate.
The recovery rate in case of aortic aneurysm surgery is slow when compared with that of a treatment that involves medicines and a change in the diet. However, it is useful only for those individuals that possess an aneurysm that measures very small. Small aneurysms hold a low percentage of rupture.
Diagnosing an Aortic Aneurysm
With the help of x-ray, angiogram, MRI scan, and CT scan, it is possible for the surgeon to locate an aorta aneurysm along with its size and shape. These are non-invasive procedures, and the results are precise and immediate. Along with the results, the doctor will consider the age factor of the patient, family history, and other conditions before opting for the surgery.
- Circulation – 2021 American Heart Association Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Thoracic Aortic Disease: https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001006
- Journal of Vascular Surgery – Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Aortoenteric Fistula After Open and Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30745098/
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