What is endovascular surgery?
Endovascular surgery is a minimally invasive method performed under local anesthesia. It deals with the treatment of disorders such as abdominal or aortic artery aneurysms, cardiovascular accidents, stenosis, obstructive arteriopathies and other problems related to the vascular system.
In the case of an aneurysm, the aim is to prevent the aneurysm sac from rupturing, and this is achieved through the use of special stents. In the treatment of cardiovascular accident, endovascular surgery can eliminate occlusions of the arteries.
It is often performed to treat an aortic aneurysm.
Why is it performed?
It is often performed to treat an aortic aneurysm. In the case of an abdominal aortic aneurysm, the aorta may dilate as a result of improper lifestyles such as smoking, stress, lack of physical activity and inadequate nutrition. When the aorta reaches and exceeds 5 cm in diameter (the correct value is 2 cm), it is advisable to perform endovascular surgery to avoid rupture of the aneurysmal sac, so this surgery is preventive in nature.
What does it consist of?
When endovascular surgery is used to treat aneurysms of the visceral arteries, the surgery is performed by inserting a catheter into the femoral aorta at the level of the groin through a small incision. The catheter is moved to the aneurysm, where it is attached to the aorta and isolates the aneurysm pocket from the blood flow through the stent and embolizing materials.
In the case of a cardiovascular accident, the catheter can be inserted into the femoral artery and threaded to the brain. Once the blood clot is reached, the catheter releases a stent that is used to free the blood flow. When the stent is removed, it also pulls the occlusion with it.
Preparing for endovascular surgery
Endovascular surgery must be preceded by a series of tests to determine if the patient suffers from serious coagulopathies that could be fatal during surgery. The patient should also provide a complete medical history.
Postoperative recovery
X-rays and ultrasound are performed after the operation to check the outcome of the procedure. The patient can usually leave the hospital two days later and return to work about a week later, while full recovery can take up to a month. It is important that you carefully follow your doctor’s instructions regarding the medications you should take and the follow-up visits you should have until you are fully recovered.
Alternative treatments
As far as the treatment of the cardiovascular accident is concerned, pharmacological treatment may be sufficient in one out of three cases, but the volume of thrombi must be reduced. For more information you can contact a specialist in Vascular Surgery.