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Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

An abdominal aortic aneurysm is an enlargement of at least 50% of the aorta within the abdominal cavity. This condition is usually asymptomatic and found incidentally via an abdominal ultrasound or computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen. In patients experiencing symptoms, there may have been a rapid expansion of the aneurysm, which can lead to an aortic dissection or rupture requiring emergency surgery.

One in three patients present to their healthcare provider complaining of a pulsatile mass in the abdomen.

Risk Factors

 

  • Risk factors for atherosclerosis (including hypertension, hyperlipidemia and smoking)
  • Family history of aortic aneurysms
  • History of aortic surgeries
  • Known history of thoracic aortic aneurysm
  • Trauma to the chest
  • Inflammatory disorders (such as giant cell aortitis and Takayasu arteritis)
  • Genetic predisposition (such as Marfan syndrome or Turner syndrome)


 

Symptoms

  • Feeling of a pulsatile mass in the abdomen
  • Severe abdominal, flank or back pain
  • Leg weakness
     

Diagnosis and Tests

If your physician suspects that you have an abdominal aortic aneurysm, he or she may order the following tests to evaluate and monitor your condition:

  • Abdominal ultrasound
  • Chest, abdominal, pelvic CT
  • Chest, abdominal, pelvic MRI


 

Treatments

  • Hypertension control
  • Abdominal aortic aneurysm surgical repair
  • Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR)


 

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Abdominal and Pelvic Minimally Invasive Surgery

Abdominal and Pelvic Minimally Invasive Surgery

At LifeBridge Health, general surgery to the abdomen and pelvis is completed through a minimally invasive approach whenever possible. Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) can be used to treat hernias, for colon resection, to remove abdominal organs and tumors, and for exploratory surgery to diagnose a condition or determine the cause of unexplained abdominal pain.

 

LifeBridge Health surgeons continue to pursue the latest innovations in MIS, including mini-port and single-port surgery. For many procedures, we are able to use incisions that are even smaller than those associated with traditional laparoscopic MIS. In some cases, surgery can be performed through a single incision in a patient's navel, which means no visible scars afterward.

 

Our surgeons have performed scores of surgeries using these leading-edge techniques, including appendectomies, gall bladder removal, colon resection and hernia repair. With smaller and fewer incisions, patients have a shorter recovery time and less pain, blood loss and risk of infection.

 

Hernia Repair

  • Flank hernias
  • Inguinal, femoral and umbilical hernias
  • Ventral/incisional hernias

 

Gastrointestinal Procedures

  • Appendectomy/cecectomy
  • Colon resection
  • Ileostomy/colostomy and closure of ileostomy/colostomy
  • Small bowel resection
  • Stomach procedures

 

Laparoscopic Exploration

  • Biopsy diagnosis
  • Staging of disease
  • Tumor diagnosis

 

Emergency Procedures

  • Abscess
  • Appendicitis/perforated appendicitis
  • Bleeding from stomach, intestine or rectum
  • Bowel obstruction
  • Incarcerated hernia
  • Perforated viscus/perforated ulcer
  • Peritonitis

 

Solid Organ Procedures

  • Adrenalectomy
  • Nephrectomy
  • Splenectomy

 

Cutting-Edge Procedures

  • Mini-port procedures
  • Single-port procedures
  • Combined procedures
  • Removal of large polyp-tumors from the colon or stomach

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