An aortic aneurysm is when a part of this artery becomes enlarged or balloons outward. It occurs due to weakness in the wall of the artery. PEVAR is a fully percutaneous procedure to repair abdominal aortic aneurysms and is done when the aneurysm is very large, growing quickly, or is leaking or bleeding.

PEVAR has a lower risk of developing complications compared to open surgery. A physician is more likely to suggest this type of repair if the patient has other serious medical problems or is of an advanced age.

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How does it work?

This procedure is done in an operating room or in a catheterization lab. During the procedure, a Deborah Specialty Physicians surgeon will:

• Make a small surgical cut near the groin, to find the femoral artery.
• Insert a stent and a man-made graft through the cut into the artery.
• Then use a dye to define the extent of the aneurysm.
• Use x-rays to guide the stent graft up into the aorta, to where the aneurysm is located.
• Next open the stent using a spring-like mechanism and attach it to the walls of the aorta. The aneurysm will eventually shrink around it.
• Lastly use x-rays and dye again to make sure the stent is in the right place and the aneurysm is not bleeding.

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What can I expect after treatment?

In most cases, patients who have undergone PEVAR will enjoy a relatively quick recovery time and return to normal activities.