Aneurysm Repair in India: Get the Treatment at best Hospital!

India Cardiac Surgery Site is associated with experienced cardiologists to deliver the perfect treatment and recuperative plan. Before the surgery, we will educate the patient with every fact involved in surgery and maintain the transparency in procedure, facilities and the related costs. We provide quality services and also assists with arrangements by keeping the concerns of the international patients in mind, providing you the utmost care and professionalism.

How to Get Started?

What is an aneurysm repair?

During an aneurysm repair, your vascular surgeon repairs or removes an aneurysm through an incision in your skin. An aneurysm is an enlarged and weakened section of an artery. An aneurysm is a serious health concern because it can rupture with increase in size. Besides rupturing, an aneurysm carries another risk which involves blood clot formation in an aneurysm that would block the blood flow to parts of your body.

Fortunately, this condition can be repaired safely and there is more than one method to repair aneurysms. These methods include the open aneurysm repair also called as surgical aneurysm, endovascular or stent graft aneurysm repair. The best method to repair an aneurysm depends on several factors, including the shape and location of the aneurysm as well as the overall health of the patient.

Where do the aneurysms occur in the body?

Most aneurysms occur in your aorta, the largest artery in your body that runs from your heart through the chest and abdomen. An aneurysm that occurs in your abdomen is called an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) while that occurring in your chest is called a thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA). Aneurysms also occur in the arteries located in your thighs, spleen, knee, kidneys, liver or stomach. AAA is the most common type of aneurysm that is usually located below the kidneys.

 

 

The aneurysms occur in:

1. Parts of the large vessel that carries blood from the heart to other parts of the body (the aorta).
2. The tiny arteries that supply blood to the brain (cerebral arteries).
3. The heart’s main pumping chamber (the left ventricle).

When & why do I need the aneurysm repair?

Not all aneurysms require immediate treatment. If your aneurysm is small and not causing any symptoms, then your physician might recommend “watchful waiting” that monitors your condition for signs of problems like enlargement.

Your physician will recommend aneurysm repair when your aneurysm causes symptoms or grows in size that can threaten your health. Aortic aneurysms in the upper chest are operated right away while those occurring in the lower chest and the area below your stomach may not be as life threatening. If the aneurysm become about 5 centimeters in diameters and continue to grow or begin to show symptoms then surgery is required. Your doctor may schedule for aneurysm repair or you may need it in an emergency.

If your surgery is scheduled then it is called as an elective repair that is needed if your aneurysm grows quickly or it grows to a certain size, depending on its location. Less often, you may require an elective repair if your aneurysm interferes with the blood flow to a part of your body like your legs.

Your physician will recommend an emergency surgery if your condition is causing symptoms like the abdominal or back pain as it may be close to bursting. You may need an emergency surgery if your aneurysm is about to burst or rupture or it has already ruptured.

Aneurysm Repair Methods:

Open aortic aneurysm repair- Open aortic aneurysm is performed in an operating room under general anesthesia when there is bleeding inside your body from an aneurysm or when you are at risk for aneurysm bursting.

Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) – It is a minimally invasive procedure that uses long, thin tubes called as catheters that your surgeon threads through your blood vessels. Usually, an endovascular treatment takes place inside your arteries.

Complex arch replacement and the elephant trunk – This is a more complex surgical procedure performed on patients with extensive aortic aneurysms involving the artery around and including the aortic arch. This procedure takes place in an operating room and the patient is under general anesthesia.

What happens during aneurysm repair surgery?

Aneurysm repair surgery involves replacing the weakened section of the vessel with an artificial tube called as a graft. The surgeons will open either the stomach area for the abdominal aneurysms or the chest for the thoracic aneurysms. The cardiovascular surgeon will lead the surgical team comprising of other assistant surgeons, surgical nurses and an anesthesiologist. At the start of the operation, the surgeon will make an incision either on the chest or abdomen depending upon where the aneurysm is located.

The surgeons will place clamps on the artery above and below the aneurysm to stop the blood flow to that part of the aorta. The heart and brain still get blood as other vessels take over.

The bulging section of the aorta is excised and then your surgeon will replace the missing piece with a fabric tube called as a graft. The clamps are removed slowly to allow the blood to flow through the vessel again. Sometimes, the surgeons will not cut out the bulging section of the aorta. The surgery will be the same for this case except that the surgeons will place a fabric graft insider the vessel such as a lining. This will decrease the pressure on the wall of the artery and the procedure is known as an endoaneurysmorrhaphy.

The heart-lung machine will be used, if the aneurysm is located in the ascending aorta just above the heart. The surgery takes about 2 to 4 hours.

 

 

You will be given anesthesia to eliminate the pain during the aneurysm surgery and the surgeon will make an incision in your skin and muscle over the artery with the aneurysm. In case of AAA, your surgeon will work through your abdominal wall. If your aneurysm is in your knee, then your surgeon will operate in your leg.

Once your surgeon exposes the site of the aneurysm, he/she will clamp the artery above the aneurysm to stop the blood from flowing through the area. Your surgeon will open the aneurysm and removes the clotted blood and plaque deposits.

Considering the location of the aneurysm, your surgeon will not completely remove your aneurysm. Instead, he or she may cut through the wall of the weakened artery by opening it like a butterfly. He or she may then insert a graft with the same shape and size as your healthy artery. Your surgeon will attach one end of the graft by sewing it to the healthy artery just above where the aneurysm begins and sews the other end to your normal artery below the end of the aneurysm. Another less common option includes your surgeon attaching a fabric path to the artery wall for decreasing its size and strengthening it.

In certain cases, if the aneurysm involves a smaller artery in your leg or other location, then your surgeon may remove and replace it with a piece of vein from your leg. For the aneurysms involving large arteries, like the aorta, a man-made graft is required because your vein would not be large enough for this location.

Less commonly, the neurosurgeons treat certain types of aneurysms as those in head with clips or small clamps. Your neurosurgeon will place a clip or clamp where the aneurysm attaches to your artery and this prevents the blood from entering the aneurysm and relieves the pressure on it.

If your surgeon cannot clip the aneurysm due to its location, then he or she will fill the aneurysm with tiny metal or plastic coils. Your surgeon will use a long, thin tube called a catheter threaded through your blood vessels to insert the coils. These coils fill the inside of the aneurysm and block the blood from flowing into it.

How to prepare for the aneurysm repair surgery?

First your surgeon obtains a medical history by asking you questions regarding your symptoms and general health. Your physician will want to know if and when the symptoms occur and how often. Your doctor will conduct a physical exam by gently feeling the aneurysm through the skin over the suspected aneurysm and listen to your arteries through a stethoscope. He/she will order some tests to measure the size of the aneurysm and determine its location, these include:

• Computed tomography (CT) scan
• Duplex ultrasound
• Angiography
• Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA)

Your surgeon will give the necessary instructions you need to follow before the surgery. You will be asked not to eat or drink anything at least 8 hours before the procedure. Your physician will ask discuss with you about reducing or stopping any medications that might increase your risk of bleeding or other complications.

What to expect after aneurysm repair surgery?

After aneurysm surgery, depending on the location of your incision and your general health, you will require special care in the intensive care unit (ICU) until you recover sufficiently. Depending upon the location of your incision and your general health, you may be required to stay in hospital for about 7-10 days. Your surgeon will provide you special instructions to follow like you are not allowed to lift anything more than 10 to 15 pounds, until your incision heals properly. Occasionally, your doctor may schedule you for an imaging study to ensure that your aneurysm is not redeveloping and the patch, graft or clips are functioning correctly.

Life After aneurysm repair surgery in India:

After aneurysm repair surgery, your doctor will recommend you to join a cardiac rehabilitation program. These programs will help you make the following lifestyle changes:

• Modify your diet by eating foods lower in fat, cholesterol and calories
• Watch your blood pressure and weight
• Exercises to get your strength back
• Learning to deal with stress
• Quit smoking

If you have an office job, then you may go back to work in about 4 weeks. If you have a more physically demanding job, then you may have to wait for 6 to 8 weeks or more.

Why Should I Choose an Indian hospital for aneurysm repair?

Over the recent years, India has become the most renowned medical tourism destination with many foreign patients arriving here each year for their surgery and treatment. The high quality cardiac care offered at affordable price through highly skilled professionals speaks volume for the emerging medical tourism in India. India Cardiac Surgery Consultants have partnered with top cardiac hospitals in India. Indian hospitals have JCI and equivalent international accredits and are staffed by the renowned cardiovascular surgeons, vascular surgeons and cardiac surgeons who are trained in the US & UK. The hospitals in India have state of the art infrastructure, modern facilities, equipments and uses the advanced technology for treatments. Aneurysm repair has a success rate of 90 to 95 percent when it is located in the portion of the aorta running through the abdomen. Whereas, the success rate jumps to 99 percent when the aneurysm is located in a portion of the aorta close to the heart. Our research experiments show that Viagra pills should be used with caution for men who have anatomical defects of the penis, which can be pronounced when it is erect (Peronei’s disease, angulation, connective tissue fibrosis of the cavernous bodies). It is not recommended to use the drug for people with a predisposition to priapism (long-term erection) on the background of sickle cell anaemia, leukaemia, multiple myeloma.

FAQ’s

• • What is the normal size of an aorta?
    • It depends on many factors, including age, gender, and which segment of the aorta is being measured.The typical size of an abdominal aorta is 2.0 to 3.0 centimeters. An enlarged abdominal aorta is typically greater than 3.0 centimeters. All patients with an enlarged aorta who do not meet surgical criteria need regular surveillance and monitoring. This may include testing by CT scan or ultrasound imaging.

 

• • Can aortic aneurysms be treated medically?
    • Medical management is necessary to treat aneurysms whether or not surgery has been performed. Just because you have an aneurysm doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to need surgery. Medical management includes risk factor modification such as blood pressure and cholesterol control, healthy eating, exercise with possible restrictions and taking medication.

 

• • What are criteria for surgery?
    • That varies based on the location of the aneurysm, your individual risk factors, anatomy, and overall health and would be discussed with our multidisciplinary team to determine the best plan of care.

 

• • What types of surgical interventions are available to treat an aortic aneurysm?
    • We have experts and pioneers in both open and endovascular surgical treatments. If you require surgery, our multidisciplinary team will select the best option for you.

 

• • How do I make an appointment with the best cardiologist in India?
    • All you have to do is send us your medical report and be rest assured. We will choose the best suitable surgeon for you, after consulting the experts.

 

• • How long will I have to stay in the hospital?
    • Most arrhythmia treatments can be done as a day case or with one night in hospital.

 

• • What type of physical restrictions do people with aortic aneurysms have?
    • This depends on the size, location and medical problems of the person with the aortic aneurysm. General restrictions for all patients with thoracic aneurysms include; no snow shoveling, chopping wood, digging hard earth or using a sledgehammer. No pushing, pulling or lifting more than 30 lbs. Avoid contact sports or any activity that could cause a direct blow to the chest.