Abdominal aortic aneurysm

Treatment

Endovascular surgery

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Mayo Clinic doctors trained in blood vessel conditions (vascular specialists), blood vessel surgery (vascular and endovascular surgeons), imaging (interventional radiologists) and others evaluate and treat people who have abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Mayo Clinic doctors work with you to determine the most appropriate treatment for your condition. Your treatment may include several options, depending on your condition and the location and size of the aneurysms.

• Endovascular surgery. In this procedure, your doctor inserts a long, thin tube (catheter) into an artery in your groin and threads the catheter to the weakened section of your aorta using X-ray imaging. The catheter has an artificial tube (stent graft) that your doctor inserts into the weakened section of your aorta and then expands the stent graft against the walls of the aorta. This surgery helps to prevent rupture of the aneurysm and reinforces the weakened area.
• Open abdominal surgery. In this surgery, your surgeon makes an incision in the middle of the abdomen or on the side. Your surgeon opens the aneurysm and replaces the weakened section of the aorta by suturing an artificial tube (graft) inside the aneurysm to reroute the blood. The wall of the aneurysm is then sutured around the tube to separate it from the rest of the abdomen.
• Monitoring. If your aneurysm is small and you aren't experiencing symptoms, your doctor may monitor you regularly with follow-up appointments and imaging tests.
• Medications. If your aneurysm is small, your doctor may prescribe medications to lower your blood pressure, lower high cholesterol and prevent complications from the aneurysm.