Aortic aneurysm is dilatation of the main blood vessel in the body called aorta. The wall of this vessel named become weak resulting in rupture and sever bleeding. The aim is to identify dilated aortic conditions and treat them before they cause rupture.
Aneurysm can occur in any part of the body mostly commonly in the chest; thoracic aortic aneurysm, in the abdomen: abdominal aortic aneurysm, or in both chest and abdomen; thoracoabdominal aneurysm. The later is usually is the most complicated one.
It is possible to treat the majority of these aneurysms using advanced endovascular treatment, which is minimally invasive surgery, carried out through small “key hole” incision in the groin. The obvious advantage is lower risk, early recovery and less pain. These below revolutionary techniques are available in Mr Abisi’s practice and performed regularly on weekly basis in one of the largest and top centers in the world:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm endovascular repair known as EVAR
- Thoracoabodminal aneurysms fenestrated and branched repairs known as FEVAR and BEVAR
- Thoracic aortic aneurysms endovascular repair known as TEVAR
- Total branched endovascular treatment of aortic arch aneurysms
- Complex thoracic aneurysms endovascular repair with debranching
- Iliac aneurysms endovascular branched repairs known as IBD and IBE
It is the surgical removal of plaque that could build up causing narrowing in an important neck artery supplying your brain.
The operation is recommendation to reduce the risk of stroke or TIA (transient ischaemic attack). The recommendation of surgery will be based on detailed assessment of your condition and imaging studies to assess the degree of narrowing of your neck artery.
How does stroke or TIA happen?
The neck artery supplying the brain is known as the internal carotid artery, the right-sided neck artery supports the function of the left side of your body (your arm and leg) and vice versa. Narrowing (or atherosclerosis plaque) of this artery develops because of risk factors like smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, diabetes and family history of similar condition. These factors also cause heart disease and problems in the circulation in the arteries of your legs.
The plaque at the inner lining of the artery origin is normally the source of stroke or TIA and its removal prevents major future stroke. You at the base of your neck artery breaks off sending c
What is the benefit of surgery?
There is significant reduction of future stroke, the degree of benefit is related to the percentage of narrowing and timing of your stroke/TIA.
Are there any alternatives to surgery?
Blood thinning medications such Aspirin and Clopidogrel are useful but less effective than an operation i.e. carotid Endarterctomy.
What does the operation involve?
The operation takes usually 90 minutes to two hours and can be done under either local or general anaesthetic. A cut will be made over the artery on your neck and the artery will be temporarily clamped (with or without a temporary shunt if the blood flow in the opposite artery is poor). The plaque and artery lining that had become narrowed (caused by atherosclerosis) will be removed and a patch will be placed to prevent future narrowing.
What is the recovery after the operation?
Most people make full recovery and can return to normal activities after few days, you will have treatment of blood thinning medications recommended to you .e.g Clopidogrel to reduce the risk of future narrowing again.
Leg pain associated with narrowing and blockage in the artery (peripheral vascular disease) can be life style limiting. It can be particularly problematic for diabetic patients if they develop leg ulceration.
Most often treatment is using endovascular technique with balloon angioplasty and/or insertion of stent. It allows to scaffold the artery and widen it effectively. It has become the gold standard and first approach for all patient as an alternative to surgery.
Mr Abisi offers state of the art minimally invasive techniques to treat narrow or blocked arteries including:
- Balloon angioplasty
- Insertion of stents
- Removal of plaque using atherectomy method
All patients benefit of annual surveillance program to ensure treated arteries are monitored and new problems with other arteries are early identified which particularly important in peripheral vascular disease and diabetes as conditions can develop progression.
