News 8 Austin | 24 Hour Local News | HEADLINES | Fixing thoracic aneurysms

Certain diseases can also weaken the aortic wall and increase one’s risk of developing an aneurysm. These diseases include Marfan syndrome, syphilis and tuberculosis. Thoracic aneurysms are more common in men than in women.

Doctors say, because of the high death rate when a rupture occurs, it is crucial to fix aneurysms before they burst. The standard fix is a major open surgery. The surgeon makes a large incision in the chest and replaces the weakened part of the aorta with a graft. The graft allows blood to pass through it and cuts off blood supply to the aneurysm. Without blood, the aneurysm disappears. The hospital stay is about a week for this surgery, and it can take months to recover.

Now, doctors are offering a safer, easier option for repairing aneurysms. Doctors can make a small incision in the groin and thread a catheter up to the aorta. Then, they advance a graft through the catheter and deploy it where the aneurysm is. The graft opens and seals the area. It eliminates blood from getting to the aneurysm, so the aneurysm shrinks. The procedure is much less invasive, requiring only the small incision in the groin where the catheter enters the artery.