Aortic Aneurysm Surgery
An aortic aneurysm is a bulging or weakening of the wall of the aorta—the major artery leaving the heart, and the largest artery in the body. A rupture or tear (aortic dissection) of the aorta can be life-threatening, so proper care at a medical center like NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital can be lifesaving. Our cardiac surgeons create a care plan for you based on the size of your aneurysm, symptoms, and your general health.
Monitoring and Early Intervention
Not everyone with an aortic aneurysm needs surgery right away. We evaluate you carefully and provide a full and honest assessment of the optimal timing of your surgery to enhance its success and avoid operating too soon. If surgery is not yet necessary, we will continue to monitor your aneurysm with periodic imaging. If you need aneurysm surgery, you may have it repaired using traditional "open surgery" or a minimally invasive approach.
Experience in Complex Aortic Aneurysm Surgery
Our cardiac surgeons include specialists in the repair of dissections and aneurysms of the ascending aorta—the part of the aorta stemming from the heart and rising in the front of the chest. This is a common area for aneurysms to occur. Our surgeons perform open surgical repair of the aneurysm, replacing the damaged part of the aorta with a plastic or fabric graft. We often treat older people and those with complex medical conditions—including connective tissue disorders such as Marfan's syndrome that increase the risk of aortic aneurysms—offering care for patients who may have been turned down by other hospitals.
Minimally Invasive Aortic Aneurysm Surgery
Some people with aneurysms in certain locations and those who may be too ill to have conventional open surgery undergo minimally invasive thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). The doctor threads a catheter into the aorta through an artery in the groin and guides a stent graft through the catheter, placing it at the site of the aneurysm. The stent graft covers the diseased part of the aorta to repair the aortic wall and prevent rupture of the aneurysm. Our hospital is one of the few in Brooklyn offering this procedure. Compared to traditional surgery, endovascular surgery is generally less painful, with a lower risk of complications, a tiny incision, and a faster recovery.