AAA Stenting
Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are weakened areas in the aorta, the largest artery in the body, which is responsible for blood supply from the heart to the rest of the body. As blood flow travels through the aorta, pressure occurs against the walls of the blood vessel. If the walls are weakened because of AAA, they may bulge and burst, causing serious problems. This condition could damage the blood supply to the hips and pelvis.
Although there are not many obvious symptoms of a ruptured AAA, look for these warning signs and tell your doctor:
- abdominal pain
- lower back pain
- feeling of a "pulse" in the abdomen
AAA stenting is a procedure in which an interventional radiologist inserts a catheter and graft inside the patient's artery using live x-ray imaging. The catheter is placed inside the femoral artery and sent to the aortic aneurysm through the veins. A stent graft is put into place to reinforce the walls of the blood vessel, preventing bulging and bursting. Recovery time will last from two to four weeks.
