Open Aortic Aneurysm Repair

An open aortic aneurysm repair is a very effective and long-lasting treatment option for aneurysms in your aorta. But it comes with higher risks than other types of procedures. This surgery opens your chest and allows us to repair your aneurysm using an artificial blood vessel. W. Darrin Clouse, MD, explains how UVA’s Aortic Center is best equipped for procedures like open aortic aneurysm repair.
Learn more at: uvahealth.com/services/aneury...
Transcript
An open operation for someone who has good cardiopulmonary heart and lung function is always an option. And that involves an incision in the chest, or the abdomen, or sometimes both. It requires an operative exposure of the aorta. It requires clamps to stop the blood flow in the aorta. And it requires a prosthetic or artificial fabric graft sewn in to replace the aorta.
Open aneurysm repair is very durable. We know that it’s very durable, but it comes with some upfront cost in terms of the potential complications because it’s a bigger procedure than a stent graft procedure would be.
All the branches that go to the kidneys, the liver, the intestines, the extremities are all part of the aorta. And so the complications of an open aortic operation are directly related to how much and where the graft is going to need to go in and how much aorta is going to need to be clamped and replaced.
Open aortic surgery usually requires several months of rehabilitation and recovery. Most people feel back to themselves after somewhere between three and six months.
I think our Aortic Center is unique in that we have two nice hybrid rooms. You can do endovascular or catheter-based aortic procedures. You can do open aortic operations in them; the big incisions and reconstructions. All these are co-located on the second floor of the new UVA tower, essentially where a patient can have any type of procedure on the cardiovascular system.

[@moosestubbings1853]

I had a valve sparing aortic root replacement done at johns hopkins in baltimore on oct.1,2009
I can run 10miles now
I have loeys dietz syndrome type 3
I participated in a study done with the institute of health,at harbor hospital,and now they have a reliable test for this connective tissue disease
#MarfanoidDisorder
(b-Transformation Growth Factor Receptor,1,2,3)
(S-MAD3)

[@sonofsham5548]

I need the same surgery going to MGH in Boston
Do you have any physical limitations from the surgery?

[@moosestubbings1853]

@@sonofsham5548 nope I can run 10miles now,I lost 265lbs,and my life is better 💯

[@CJB-]

So good to hear this.

[@tejanochris]

I am 72 and not the greatest of health. Diabetic etc. I think I would opt for the stent graft through the arteries. Opening the chest would create more problems as far as healing.

[@clifffair984]

Dr how r u my wife has aneurysm of the interventricular heart conditions 7mm can this be treated be medicine , or do they do keyhole or open heart surgery what's the risk please she's 51 thank you

[@englelisa45]

If a person who is 57 years old with a BMI of 64 , is weight loss surgery safe with a mildly dilated aorta .
Ascending aorta measures 4.1 CM @ 3.1 cm distal to stj

[@pamelareibling3724]

What State is this hospital in?

[@frankiebutler2894]

UVA.....University of Virginia

[@MsRustynuts]

I've had this operation 3 times

[@AlaskaMuzic]

Why 3 doesn’t when they fix it it last for 20 to 30 years

[@MsRustynuts]

@@AlaskaMuzic infections, high risk of infection with this procedure. Plus they can't put a lifespan on it. It all depends on how you behave or abuse yourself, i was told, they were right 😥

[@delije8953]

@@MsRustynuts can you currently perform all physical activities normally? for example - construction, gym...?

[@MsRustynuts]

@@delije8953 no . Way too risky, much and all as I loved both 🤕

[@delije8953]

@@MsRustynuts and what if my job is construction? How long will it take me to fully recover and return to that job if possible...