About Aortic Aneurysm Disease

An aortic aneurysm is the weakening and enlargement of the aortic wall, which, if left untreated, can lead to rupture and death. There are two types of aortic aneurysms: thoracic and abdominal. Aortic aneurysms affect approximately 2.7 million Americans and are the 13th leading cause of death in the United States.

An aneurysm can take the form of a balloon-shaped sac which expands to several times its normal arterial diameter. If left untreated, the aneurysm will continue to expand and may eventually rupture (burst) or tear. A ruptured aneurysm is a life-threatening condition requiring immediate medical attention. Early diagnosis and preventive repair are vital since only one out of two patients with an AAA rupture will survive.

Risk factors for aneurysm disease, which increase with age, include:

• atherosclerosis (plaque in the artery);
• high blood pressure;
• smoking;
• being male; and
• having an immediate relative, such as a mother or brother, who has had an aneurysm.

Treatment of an aneurysm requires either traditional open surgery to remove the aneurysm or the increasingly popular and less invasive endovascular surgery. Endovascular repair of the aneurysm means that a stent graft is placed inside the aneurysm sac. A stent graft is a tube-like device that allows blood to flow through it instead of through the aneurysm, similar to a straw in a drinking glass. Blood flows through the stent graft (straw) instead of into the aneurysm sac (glass) and reduces the pressure in the aneurysm to keep it from bursting. The stent graft is inserted into an artery in the groin and advanced into the aneurysm sac. The EndoSure® Wireless AAA Pressure Sensor is indicated for use during endovascular aneurysm repair.

If you have an aortic aneurysm, your physician can help you decide which procedure is best for you. The choice depends greatly on your unique situation. The goal of any treatment is to avoid aneurysm rupture by lowering the blood pressure on the weak part of the blood vessel (aneurysm sac wall). Your physician will decide when it is best to treat your aneurysm.

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