What is EVAR- TEVAR?
In the endovascular treatment of aortic aneurysms, grafts that begin before the aneurysm balloon and continue along with and end in the area where the balloon ends, are placed. The repair of an aneurysm is named EVAR (Endovascular aneurysm repair) if the aneurysm is in the abdomen, while it is called TEVAR (Thoracic endovascular aortic / aneurysm repair) if it is in the chest region.
Aorta is the main artery in the body. It goes right out of the heart. It is like the thickest root of the vascular tree that carries oxygenated blood to the whole body. Once the aorta getting out of the heart, it is divided into three. One goes to coronary vessels that feed the heart, the other goes to the brain and the third one goes to the arms. Then aorta starts to navigate down to the body following a curve route. Then it divides into two in the groin and turns into leg vessels.
The disease as known as aneurysm often occurs in the thoracic aorta or in the abdominal aorta located in the intra-abdominal part.
What is The Aortic Aneurysm?
Aneurysm, in its simplest form, is a type of ballooning in an artery that causes the vessel diameter to expand 50% more than normal. Ballooning of the aortic vessel is called an aortic aneurysm. The aneurysms seen in certain sections of the aorta are given the name of that particular section. (e.g abdominal aortic aneurysm or thoracic aortic aneurysm).
Top 5 Reason of Aortic Aneurysm
1- Degeneration due to high blood pressure
2- Inflammatory diseases occurring within the vessel wall, which is called degeneration and inflammation.
3- Genetic connective tissue disorders, due to congenital weakness of the vascular wall (e.g Marfan Syndrome)
4-Smoking: It is the main risk factor of intraabdominal aneurysms.
5-Age: often seen above 65 years old
How to Treat Aortic Aneurysm?
Different treatments are being used depending on location, and size of the aneurysm. The treatment method is determined according to the diameter of the aneurysm in the aorta (interventional treatment limit 5.5 – 6 cm), the growth rate of the aneurysm, and whether there are other diseases accompanying the aneurysm.
If the aneurysm has not reached certain sizes, medication treatment is recommended. Invasive endovascular methods are recommended in aneurysms size 5.5 cm and above. Open surgery is preferred in cases where invasive methods cannot be applied.
What Are The Advantages Of Endovascular Procedures like EVAR & TEVAR ?
The Advantages Of Endovascular Procedures like EVAR & TEVAR are:
1- Short hospital stay,
2- The short period of stay in an intensive care unit,
3- Almost no need for blood transfusion.
4- Quality of life in the post-operation period is quite higher compared to open aneurysm surgery
5- The risk of mortality is much lower
The aim of endovascular procedures is to eliminate the aneurysm region and enable bloodstream by repair with artificial vessels. These artificial vessels (grafts) are composed of polyester, PTF or dakron style grafts.