What Is Endovascular Aortic Repair (EVAR)?

EVAR, or Endovascular Aortic Repair, is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). It's an alternative to traditional open surgery, offering several advantages like:

• Smaller incisions: Instead of a large abdominal incision, EVAR requires only small punctures in the groin area.
• Reduced blood loss and risk of infection: Minimally invasive surgery generally carries lower risks of these complications.
• Faster recovery time and shorter hospital stay: Patients typically recover faster and spend less time in the hospital after EVAR than open surgery.
• Less pain and discomfort: Smaller incisions mean less post-operative pain and discomfort.

How Does EVAR Work?

Here's how EVAR for AAA works:

1. Access: The surgeon makes small punctures in the groin area and inserts long, thin tubes called catheters into the femoral arteries.
2. Delivery System: A collapsed stent-graft, a fabric tube supported by a metal frame, is loaded onto a delivery system via the catheters.
3. Deployment: The delivery system guides the stent-graft through the femoral arteries and up into the aorta. Once positioned above and below the aneurysm, the stent-graft is carefully expanded.
4. Sealing: The fabric covering of the stent-graft seals the leaking sac of the aneurysm, diverting blood flow through the new graft and away from the weakened section of the aorta.
5. Removal: The delivery system is then removed, leaving the stent-graft in place to permanently repair the aneurysm.

What Makes Someone a Good Candidate for EVAR?

EVAR is not suitable for every AAA. Some factors that may make you a good candidate for EVAR include:

• Aneurysm size and location: EVAR is typically suitable for AAAs less than 5.5 cm in diameter and located in the lower abdominal aorta.
• Anatomy of the vascular system: The arteries in the groin and abdomen need to be suitable for accessing and deploying the stent-graft.
• Overall health: You need to be healthy enough to undergo the procedure and tolerate anesthesia.

What Are the Risks of EVAR?

Like any surgery, EVAR carries certain risks, including:

• Groin site bleeding or infection
• Stroke
• Kidney damage
• Leakage of the aneurysm around the stent-graft
• Need for future surgery

Overall, EVAR is a treatment option for many patients with AAA. It offers some advantages over open surgery in terms of recovery time, pain and risk of complications. However, the decision of whether EVAR is right for you should be made in consultation with your doctor, considering your individual circumstances and the specific characteristics of your AAA.

If you or your loved one is in the San Antonio area, Boerne or New Braunfels call 210-369-9151 today to make your appointment with Dr. Busken.