To provide support for a weakened portion of the abdominal aorta called an aortic aneurysm. When pressure from blood pushes against the wall of the aorta, it causes the weakened portion of the aorta to balloon. If left untreated, the aorta (the largest artery in the body) may rupture, causing massive internal bleeding. A device known as an endoluminal stent graft (or endograft) can be placed inside the abdominal aorta to provide support for the weakened artery. This endograft is a hollow, fabric-covered tube, surrounding a mesh metal cylinder (or stent). When permanently placed inside the abdominal aorta, it alleviates blood pressure on the aorta, allowing blood to pass through it without pushing on the weakened, bulging artery.

What is the procedure?

Abdominal endografting is a minimally-invasive procedure to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm. At the beginning of the procedure, you will receive a sedative along with regional (in some cases, general) anesthesia. To help decrease the chances of infection, the clinical team will clean your skin and shave hair around the insertion point—your groin. A small puncture will be made in the groin to insert and place the endograft. The endograft is advanced to the abdominal aorta. X-ray pictures are continually taken by the physician so he or she can position the endograft appropriately. Once it is positioned at the aneurysm site, the physician withdraws the catheter, subsequently leaving the endograft in place.

Pressure is applied to the puncture site (to stop bleeding) while the patient rests quietly.

Where is the procedure performed?

In the Catheterization Lab or the Interventional Radiology Suite.

How long does this procedure take?

Abdominal endograft placement usually takes 1-2 hours.

For a referral to an Allen Hospital cardiologist, call (319)235-3944 or click here to go to the Heart Center physician listing.