About Endovascular Repair With a Stent Graft

OVERVIEW

An endovascular stent graft is like having a small, metal scaffold inside your aorta. It supports the weak area, so you can return to normal activities. Hundreds of thousands of patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm have gone through this type of procedure for relief over the past decade.

WHAT IS A STENT GRAFT?

An endovascular stent graft is a synthetic fabric tube (graft) supported by a metal structure (stent). The stent graft helps to bypass the area of the aorta weakened by the aneurysm to keep it from rupturing.

The stent graft is designed so that it can be placed inside of the abdominal aorta, without surgically opening the blood vessel or removing any tissue.

Learn more about endovascular stent grafting.

BENEFITS AND RISKS OF STENT GRAFT

Placement of an endovascular stent graft into the aortic aneurysm is done without open-chest or open-abdomen surgery, which can make recovery time faster. There are risks with any type of surgery. The benefits and safety of any surgical procedure must be carefully evaluated. Ask your doctor how these potential benefits and risks may affect you.

Benefits of Stent Graft Therapy

Endovascular stent graft therapy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure. With endovascular stent graft therapy, it is not necessary to perform open-chest or open-abdominal aneurysm surgery. For some patients, this reduces the recovery time by several days. In some cases, patients can return home and return to normal activities within 4 to 6 weeks.

Potential Risks Associated with Stent Grafting

Endovascular stent grafting does not require the removal of part of the aorta; however, there is a small, but significant, risk of aneurysm rupture that is slightly higher than that of open-surgery aneurysm repair.

Other complications associated with endovascular stent grafting include:

To monitor these possible complications, your doctor will schedule periodic visits after your surgery. It is important to keep these appointments to make sure your stent is working correctly.

ENDOVASCULAR STENT GRAFTING IS NOT FOR EVERYONE

Your aortic aneurysm may not have the right shape, or it may be too close to other organs. Your doctor or vascular surgeon will help you decide whether endovascular stent grafting or open surgery is the best treatment option for you.

Information on this site should not be used as a substitute for talking with your doctor. Always talk with your doctor about diagnosis and treatment information.