What is Endovascular Aneurysm Repair?
Endovascular aneurysm repair is a life-saving procedure that prevents potentially catastrophic damage to the aorta. You might be surprised to learn that this procedure is performed as a minimally invasive option at our spa-like offices at South Florida Vascular Associates. You’ll only find this state-of-the-art procedure with our highly experienced and impressive team, so here’s what to know about endovascular aneurysm repair at our Coconut Creek, Boynton Beach, and Plantation, FL locations.
What’s an Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm?
An aneurysm is a serious health condition where a blood vessel swells and balloons outward, potentially bursting and causing severe bleeding in the area. Although an aneurysm has the potential to occur anywhere in the body, it can be especially dangerous when it occurs in the abdominal aorta. This large blood vessel runs directly from the heart down to the abdomen, where it supplies oxygen-rich blood to the major organs in the abdomen, such as the liver, bowels, and kidneys – in fact, it’s the largest artery in the body. Normally, this aorta can withstand the blood pressure from the nearby heart, but a weakening of the walls or damage to the aorta (combined with the force of blood pressure) can cause it to expand and burst.
What is Endovascular Aneurysm Repair?
This minimally invasive procedure reinforces the walls of the aorta while still allowing blood to pass through. It uses a small catheter and a live-feed camera inserted through a tiny entry point in a nearby artery. Your vascular surgeon will locate the aneurysm in the aorta and place a specialized tool called a stent. The stent is a small mesh tube covered with thin polyester fabric. It’s placed inside the aorta to provide support to the blood vessel walls while blood flows through it. It can provide long-term protection against bursting of the aneurysm – in fact, this procedure has a more than 90% success rate in the long term.
Endovascular Aneurysm Repair Recovery
After endovascular aneurysm repair, you may need to be monitored to ensure you remain in good condition. Once you return home, our vascular surgeons will give you detailed instructions to follow regarding exercise, work, and medications. Your complete recovery may take 2-3 months, but our team will help you work toward maintaining good vascular health, such as lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, getting regular physical activity, and quitting smoking. They may also recommend regularly checking your aorta with medical imaging to ensure the stent remains in place and the aneurysm shrinks over time.
Endovascular Aneurysm Repair in South Florida
At South Florida Vascular Associates, we offer groundbreaking vascular care so you can work toward living a healthy and fulfilling life. To meet with our team and learn more about your options for abdominal aortic aneurysm treatment, contact our offices today by calling or requesting a consultation online.
Dr. Willian Julien
Dr. William Julien is a board-certified vascular interventional radiologist and the president of South Florida Vascular Associates. He specializes in minimally invasive procedures to treat conditions like PAD, BPH, uterine fibroids, varicose veins, and aortic aneurysms. Dr. Julien earned his medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine and completed his residency at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, followed by fellowship training at the Miami Cardiac and Vascular Institute. He is certified by the American Board of Radiology with a subspecialty in interventional radiology. Dr. Julien is a member of RSNA and the American Heart Association’s CVRI Council and serves on the Society of Interventional Radiology’s Practice Affairs Committee. He is involved in national device trials and speaks regularly at endovascular conferences. His outpatient endovascular suite is one of the first of its kind in the U.S., allowing patients to receive advanced care outside the hospital.
