Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair (TEVAR)
TEVAR This is a less invasive surgery that repairs the aorta using a flexible, metal coil covered by cloth, called a stent-graft. This surgery is used to treat an aortic aneurysm, or enlargement of the aorta, the main vessel that carries blood from your heart to your brain and major organs. TEVAR is also called endovascular stent-grafting or endovascular aortic surgery.
Some patients may be eligible for this less invasive treatment, while others will be better candidates for traditional open surgery.
The doctor makes small incisions in the groin and inserts tubes called catheters into the arteries of the leg. Using real-time X-rays, the doctor guides the stent-graft through the arteries and places it inside of the aneurysm. The doctor withdraws the catheter and leaves the stent-graft behind to seal off the weak part of the aorta.
Blood travels within the stent graft, essentially forming a tube within a tube. This protects the diseased part of the aorta from growing larger.
Doctors can use TEVAR in combination with more traditional surgery. In these "hybrid" operations, the doctor replaces one section of the aorta with a surgical graft and another section with a stent-graft.
Patients usually recover more quickly after TEVAR than after traditional, surgical repair. In general, patients that undergo TEVAR recover smoothly and are able to leave the hospital within a few days. Close follow-up and additional scans are necessary over the next several months.
© 2018 Intermountain Healthcare. All rights reserved. The content presented here is for your information only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, and it should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Please consult your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns.