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Life After Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Life after abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) depends somewhat on the treatment utilized. Some AAAs may be cured with medication, while others require surgery. The type of surgery also plays a role.

  1. Identification

    • Size will initially determine the impact of an aneurysm. "If you have a small aneurysm, your doctor will ask you to come back every six to 12 months for a CT or ultrasound to measure the size of your aneurysm," says the Cleveland Clinic.

    Prevention/Solution

    • Doctors will order a patient to cease contributing to conditions, like smoking and poor diet, that can lead to development of an aneurysm . Medications to control hypertension and cholesterol will be prescribed.

    Surgery

    • The two common types of surgery are open abdominal repair (OR) or endovascular repair (EVAR). Recovery time for OR varies. "Most people need at least a month or six weeks to recover from aneurysm surgery," according to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. The hospital stay is typically a week.

    EVAR

    • EVAR is a non-invasive technique that drastically reduces recovery time. Patients will be required to undergo examination every six months for monitoring of potential complications.

    Considerations

    • A 2006 study published in the Journal of Vascular Surgery indicated that many patients who underwent open repair enjoyed a higher quality of life. "EVAR patients had lower quality of life scores six months after surgery than OR patients," the publication reported.

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