Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm: The Facts, Stats, and You

Modern society has provided us with some exceptional things: advanced technologies, instantaneous communication, and a developed infrastructure in many areas of our lives. It has also given us the ability to repair health issues like abdominal aortic aneurysms with little complication and no open surgery.

An abdominal aortic aneurysm is an enlargement or weak area in the main blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. An aneurysm of this area is caused by a breakdown of the lining of the vessel. The vessel lining gets weaker, primarily due to age and other risk factors, and consequentially becomes thinner. Eventually, the wall expands and this expansion is the aneurysm.

The Stats
Based on 2011 statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

• Rupture of an AAA carries a risk of death up to 90%
• AAA is more common in men and in people ages 65 and up
• Smoking is associated with a 3-to-5 fold increase in the prevalence of abdominal aortic aneurysms

Symptoms of an AAA are felt once the vessel has ruptured, or is leaking. These symptoms can include:

• pain in the abdomen or back
• clammy skin
• nausea and vomiting
• rapid heart rate
• shock

Treatment of AAA comes in two procedure options: open surgical or endovascular repair, with endovascular becoming the preferred choice due to the minimal invasion it requires. The endovascular repair process involves sealing off the aneurysm by placing a graft inside the diseased aorta, allowing blood to flow through freely. This procedure, typically taking one to three hours, is done by Dr. Paul Jones at Franciscan Physicians Hospital.

Dr. Jones, founder of the Jones Endovascular Institute, is Chief of Cardiovascular Services at Mercy Hospital’s Heart & Vascular Center.

In the traditional or open repair, a large cut is made in the abdomen. The vessel is then replaced with a graft made of synthetic material, such as Dacron.

Alternatively, endovascular treatment is done with some of the most definitive imaging machines and catheterization (cath) labs available. Franciscan Physicians Hospital recently completed construction of a new cath lab, the Philips Allura Xper FD20. This lab provides Dr. Jones and his cardiovascular team with the best ability to repair AAA cases, among many other things.

For more information on AAA procedures and a complete online health library, visit our A.D.A.M. Online Health Library.

Philips Cath Lab Blessing Moves Operations Forward

Franciscan Physicians Hospital, proud to announce the opening of their new Philips FD20 Cath Lab, held a blessing of the space on Wednesday, June 1st, in the hospital's lower level. The new FD20 is a state-of-the-art lab that provides enhanced image quality with flat-panel technology.

During the blessing, Father Gregory Holicky was designated as Celebrant, with Barb Greene, FPH President, and Tracey Franovich, VP of OPerations/CNO, welcoming guests and providing the opening remarks.

Recommitment reading was done by Sister Jane Marie, Chairperson for the Board of Trustees, and Dr. Paul Jones, Interventional Cardiologist and Endovascular Specialist, read the Word of God.

Procedures afforded by the new Philips system will provide the level of detail image necessary for complex surgical/endovascular procedures such as peripheral vascular work, carotid stenting, complex revascularization and complex thoracic and abdominal aneurysm repairs.

FPH President Barb Greene states, "We're moving in an expansive new direction with this technologically advanced machine. The Philips system is going to provide Franciscan Physicians Hospital with some of the most definitive interventional abilities in the NWI region and greater Chicago land area. We look forward to promoting its capabilities with our exceptional Cardiology team."

With technician training now complete, cases will begin this week in the hospital's new cath lab.

Watch the attached video to see the Cath Lab Blessing and the Cath Lab itself.



Click here for our A.D.A.M. complete online health library.