Aortic Stent Graft What is an Aortic Stent Graft? An aortic stent-graft is a non-surgical form of treatment of an aortic aneurysm. An aortic aneurysm is a weak area in the aorta, the main blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. As blood flows through the aorta, the weak area bulges like a balloon and can burst if the balloon gets too big. How do I prepare for the procedure? You will need a CT scan of the aorta for pre-procedure planning as well as a full assessment by vascular surgery and your internist prior to undergoing this procedure. How is the procedure performed? A stent-graft is positioned across the aneurysm, with its ends seated into the normal diameter aorta above and below the aneurysm. This effectively isolates the aneurysm sac from the normal circulation and provides a new normal channel to provide blood flow to the lower abdomen, pelvis and legs. The stent-graft is delivered via specialized catheters, which are introduced through small surgical incisions in the groin. It is threaded through the abdominal aorta using X-ray guidance. The catheter is removed and the stent-graft expands into place. With this technique, there is no need to make a large incision in the abdomen or to cut away the damaged section of blood vessel. What should I expect after the procedure? Once the stent-graft is in place, the metal cylinder is expanded like a spring to hold tightly against the wall of the blood vessel. The blood will now flow through the stent-graft, avoiding the aneurysm, which typically shrinks over time. Recovery after stent grafting is generally much quicker and easier than recovery from open aortic surgery. More Information Link Aortic Stent Graph is available at the following locations: Mills Peninsula (San Mateo County) Seton Medical Center (San Mateo County) California Pacific Medical Center (San Francisco) Marin General Hospital (Marin County)