- Long term experience, Tyrone David heart surgery, aortic valve-sparing.
- The repair of aortic arch without circulatory arrest.
- Extubation while still in the operating theatre.
The aortic aneurysm is an enlargement of the aorta on a limited segment. Most commonly, the aortic aneurysm is situated at the level of the abdominal aorta, most frequently being the result of the atherosclerosis process. At first, it is asymptomatic and it can be discovered by chance, while an abdominal ultrasound scan is performed. The most critical risk implies the rupture of the aortic aneurysm and the cataclysmic hemorrhage. Because of this fatal complication, the abdominal aortic aneurysm must be operated when its diameter is larger than 5 cm, even though it is asymptomatic. Thoracic aortic aneurysm is less frequent and it may have various causes (atherosclerosis, congenital anomalies- Marfan syndrome, aortic bicuspid, aortic coarctation). Thoracic aortic aneurysm has the same risks as abdominal aortic aneurysm does and that is why it must be operated when its diameter is larger than 5 cm.
Treatment
- Interventional treatment – the endovascular minimally invasive method of placing a stent graft (endoprothesis) in the aortic lumen, by sparing the aneurismal segment from the arterial circulation.
- Surgical treatment – consists of the replacement of the affected vascular segment with a Dacron or ePTFE synthetic tubular prothesis.
The natural evolution without surgical treatment
In lack of surgical treatment, the aortic aneurysm increases in diameter and leads to the progressive thinning and weakening of the vascular wall, causing its rupture. The succeeding cataclysmic hemorrhage is fatal in more than 95% of the cases.
The results achieved after surgical intervention
The team of Inimed Clinic, made of Romanian and French cardiovascular surgeons has a 92%, respectively 98% success rate in the aortic aneurysm surgical and endovascular treatment in the last 5 years.
