Endovascular Treatment
Aortic aneurysm, which is seen in 10 percent of men with hypertension over the age of 65, is a health problem that seriously threatens the life of the patient when it occurs. About 80% of aortic aneurysms occur due to hypertension. Endovascular surgery, which has taken its place as the first choice in the treatment of the disease, has a history of about 10 years in the United States and European countries.
What is an aortic aneurysm?
The aorta is the main artery that originates from the heart and from which the entire arterial network of the body originates. Aortic aneurysm means weakening of the wall structure of the aorta, the largest artery in the body, and enlargement of its diameter. Degeneration of elastic fibers in the vessel wall structure is the most common factor in aortic aneurysms and is associated with a genetic tendency. This disease, which is usually seen in people over the age of 50 and with high blood pressure, can also be seen at a very early age in some connective tissue diseases. How does an aortic aneurysm damage the vessel?
In aneurysms that can be seen in various parts of the aorta, dangers such as rupture of the vessel (rupture) or separation of the layers in the vessel wall (dissection) are common when the vessel diameter reaches twice the normal value. Therefore, patients with aneurysms should be followed closely and active treatment should be applied in cases where the aortic diameter doubles or exceeds 5 centimeters. How is an aortic aneurysm treated?
Currently, there are two types of treatment for aortic aneurysms. "endovascular treatment", which means open surgical treatment and intravenous intervention. In this method, large surgical incisions and deep anesthesia are not required. The procedure can often be performed with local anesthesia only through a 3/4-centimeter surgical incision in the inguinal artery region. Endovascular treatment of aortic aneurysms has opened new horizons in the treatment of this high-risk patient group, which is generally elderly and has coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and various lung diseases together. In classical open surgical methods, at best, 3/4 units of blood should be given to replace the patient's blood loss, and the patient should be kept in the intensive care unit for a few days and in the hospital for 1 week. On the other hand, when the patient is treated with the endovascular method, there is often no need for the use of blood or blood products, he can be kept in the intensive care unit for 4/6 hours and discharged 2 days later. In addition, the recovery period of patients who are free from major surgical trauma with endovascular treatment is extremely short and they can return to their normal lives within 1 week.
What is an aortic aneurysm?
The aorta is the main artery that originates from the heart and from which the entire arterial network of the body originates. Aortic aneurysm means weakening of the wall structure of the aorta, the largest artery in the body, and enlargement of its diameter. Degeneration of elastic fibers in the vessel wall structure is the most common factor in aortic aneurysms and is associated with a genetic tendency. This disease, which is usually seen in people over the age of 50 and with high blood pressure, can also be seen at a very early age in some connective tissue diseases. How does an aortic aneurysm damage the vessel?
In aneurysms that can be seen in various parts of the aorta, dangers such as rupture of the vessel (rupture) or separation of the layers in the vessel wall (dissection) are common when the vessel diameter reaches twice the normal value. Therefore, patients with aneurysms should be followed closely and active treatment should be applied in cases where the aortic diameter doubles or exceeds 5 centimeters. How is an aortic aneurysm treated?
Currently, there are two types of treatment for aortic aneurysms. "endovascular treatment", which means open surgical treatment and intravenous intervention. In this method, large surgical incisions and deep anesthesia are not required. The procedure can often be performed with local anesthesia only through a 3/4-centimeter surgical incision in the inguinal artery region. Endovascular treatment of aortic aneurysms has opened new horizons in the treatment of this high-risk patient group, which is generally elderly and has coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and various lung diseases together. In classical open surgical methods, at best, 3/4 units of blood should be given to replace the patient's blood loss, and the patient should be kept in the intensive care unit for a few days and in the hospital for 1 week. On the other hand, when the patient is treated with the endovascular method, there is often no need for the use of blood or blood products, he can be kept in the intensive care unit for 4/6 hours and discharged 2 days later. In addition, the recovery period of patients who are free from major surgical trauma with endovascular treatment is extremely short and they can return to their normal lives within 1 week.