How is a large abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repaired?

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  1. Intermountain Healthcare
     
    Intermountain Healthcare answered:
    There are two ways to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA):
    • Abdominal surgery. A large incision (cut) is made in your abdomen. The weakened aorta section is removed and replaced with a tube made of a special synthetic (man-made) material.
    • Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR, also called "stent grafting"). In an EVAR procedure, two catheters (tiny tubes) are inserted into an artery in your leg and threaded up through it to the aorta. The catheters are used to place a tube called a stent graft into the aorta at the area of the aneurysm. The stent graft "lines" the aorta like an inner sleeve and stays in place after the procedure. Blood flows through the graft and doesn't press against the aneurysm.
    More Related Answers from Intermountain Healthcare
    There are two ways to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA): Abdominal surgery. A large incision (cut) is made in your abdomen. The weakened aorta section is removed and replaced with a tube made of a special synthetic (man-made)... More