Unfortunately, an AAA tends to grow slow and present without symptoms making them difficult to diagnosis. However, the larger the aneurysm becomes patients may notice a pulsating feeling near the navel, …show more content…
Although the exact cause of an AAA is unknown there are some risks factors that may contribute to the condition that include tobacco use, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, infection of the aorta, trauma, heredity, age, gender and race. Since a ruptured AAA accounts for 15,000 deaths annually it is recommended for people who fall within the high risk category to have a routine abdominal ultrasonography completed to treat the aneurysm before it ruptures.
To repair an AAA, the section of the abdominal aorta that is dilated is removed and replaced with a graft. To perform the procedure, the patient is placed in the supine position and sedated with general anesthesia followed by skin preparation and draping. The surgeon will then make an incision down the center of the abdomen from the breastbone to the below the navel or across the abdomen from underneath the left arm to the center of the abdomen down to navel.
After dissection and the aorta is located a clamp is placed above and below the aneurysm. The aneurysm sac is then cut open and the graft is sutured into place. After the clamps are removed the walls of the aneurysm are wrapped around the graft and the aorta is sutured back