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AAA Endoluminal Grafting |
A New
Frontier In...
Abdominal
Aortic Aneurysm Therapy |
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New:
View a Live Web Broadcast of an actual
Endograft Repair of an
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm...
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Contents:
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Historical
Background
Over
the last several decades, there have been significant advances in the treatment of
vascular disease. Balloon angioplasty was a breakthrough technology that allowed for
the restoration of flow to occluded (blocked) vessels without a major operation and chest
incision. The evolution of stent therapy has improved the success and durability of
traditional angioplasty procedures.
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Recently,
a new technique called endoluminal grafting has been introduced. This provides an
important alternative for patients requiring treatment of aneurysmal disease, specifically
for the exclusion, or confinement, of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA's). An
aneurysm describes the enlargement of a blood vessel due to atherosclerosis, hypertension,
trauma, or genetic factors. As aneurysms enlarge, they carry with them the very
serious risk of rupture... a complication that can prove fatal. The incidence
of AAA's is expected to surge in the new millenium as the aging "Baby Boomer"
population becomes increasingly at risk for cardiovascular diseases.
Currently,
more than 15,000 deaths can be attributed to AAA annually, making it the 13th
leading cause of death in the United States. |
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We
at Heart Care Centers of Illinois are excited about this
latest breakthrough in vascular disease management. Affirming our commitment to
cutting-edge therapies in the management of cardiac and vascular disease, a number of our
physicians are skilled in this new technique. |
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New Catheter-Based Procedure
The
conventional surgical approach to the therapy of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms (AAA's)
requires an incision over the abdomen to expose the aorta. The aneurysm is then
clamped off below the renal arteries and above the iliac arteries. A synthetic graft
is placed within the aneurysmal vessel, essentially removing the risk of future rupture.
This
major surgery requires a hospital stay of seven to ten days, and full recovery times
ranging up to eight weeks. For some patients with multiple coincident medical
problems, major surgery is not an option, and until recently, no alternative treatment was
available.
In 1999, the FDA approved the first minimally invasive devices to
repair AAA's: Medtronic's AneuRx Stent Graft System and Guidant's Ancure Endograft System. These second generation devices demonstrate significant design
advantages over initial models. In fact, the AneuRx procedure has been performed
successfully in 92% of patients in an ongoing clinical study. |
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Endovascular
Therapy for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms |
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Utilizing the new catheter-based technique, a small incision is made
in the groin and a catheter is guided through the femoral artery to the aneurysm.
Both X-ray guidance and intravascular ultrasound are employed to measure the
aneurysm. Then, an appropriately sized endoluminal graft is placed inside the
enlarged aorta to exclude blood flow into the aneurysm. The endovascular procedure
requires a hospital stay of only 24-48 hours, and patients are encouraged to walk within a
few hours. Importantly, high-risk patients who might not be eligible for
conventional surgery can often be treated with the endovascular device. |
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Endoluminal
grafting will decrease death and disability from AAA's, which are estimated to affect 1.5
million Americans, and are diagnosed in some 200,000 people each year.
The newly
FDA-approved technology has been shown to cut major complications by 50% and significantly
reduce time spent in the hospital by three or four days. |
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Candidates for Endovascular Technique
At
the present time, not all patients are candidates for the endovascular technique. If
the aneurysm is too close to the renal arteries, sharply angled, or if the iliac vessels
are too small, it may not be possible to deploy the graft. As with all new
technologies, there will be limitations. In the coming years, as new advancements
are made in endoluminal grafting, many more patients will be able to choose this less
invasive alternative. Many experts believe that 70% of AAA's will eventually be treated via a catheter-based approach. |
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Doctors
Skilled in Endovascular Therapy for AAA
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For more information, or to make an appointment, please call our
St. Francis
Hospital, Blue Island Office at (708) 824-1114.
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