Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Repairs
Endovascular repair (EVAR) for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Mr Bicknell explains that endovascular repair (keyhole surgery) is one of the main treatment options for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). It involves a medical device called a stent graft. A small cut is made into the groin, and the stent graft is then fed up under X-ray guidance into the aorta. The main advantage over open repair is that there is less trauma, less complications shortly after the operation, and patients can usually go home within a day or two. But, in the long term, there can be leakage around the stent graft into the aneurysm (endoleak), which means there is a higher chance of having further procedures. This also means that you will need more regular follow up.