Aortic Aneurysm

An aneurysm is a blow-out or dilation of an artery - in this case the biggest artery in the body - the aorta. This eventually leads to the aneurysm bursting (similar to blowing up a balloon until it bursts). Apart from traditional surgery The Vein and Artery Clinic provides the newest form of minimally invasive treatment - Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR). Instead of major surgery involving a general anaesthetic, a large abdominal or chest incision, this procedure can de done without general anaesthetic through two small groin incisions. A stent is passed up the artery in the groin and deployed across the area of weakness in the aorta. There is no need for intensive care post operatively and eating or drinking can begin after the procedure. This operation is also much smaller than the traditional surgery with a much quicker recovery time and low mortality rate.

	Figures 1 - 4 The stent graft, on it's delivery system, is passed up the artery in the right groin. The overlying sheath is retracted and the stent graft deployed
	Figures 5 - 8 An addition limb of the graft is then deployed through the artery in the left groin. The blood then runs through the stent graft, thus excluding the aneurysm from the circulation.