Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR)

Options for aneurysm repair

If you have an AAA, your vascular surgeon will likely recommend aneurysm surgery to prevent it from rupturing or tearing, which is known as aortic dissection.

The EVAR procedure can successfully treat many AAAs and can be a good option for people who can’t have an open aneurysm repair.

During EVAR, your vascular surgeon repairs your aneurysm through a small incision in the groin. The surgeon starts by inserting a thin tube called a catheter through the incision and guiding it to your aneurysm. The surgeon then sends a guide wire and a tiny mesh tube called a stent graft through the catheter. Once they’ve reached the aneurysm, your surgeon positions the stent graft in the aorta to direct blood flow away from the aneurysm.

A more complex form of EVAR called fenestrated EVAR, or FEVAR, works similarly. This procedure involves a graft designed to match the aorta and allows blood to flow through arteries that branch off the aorta.

FEVAR is a more complicated procedure than EVAR. While EVAR typically takes up to 2.5 hours to perform, FEVAR can take as long as eight hours.

What to expect during an EVAR procedure

Your care team will provide instructions about what to do in the days and weeks before your EVAR procedure. These instructions will include guidance about whether to take your medications and when to stop eating before the surgery.

Following AAA repair, you will typically remain in the hospital the next day for observation with minimally invasive procedures and a few days post-operation if undergoing an open surgery. Your vascular surgeon and other providers will monitor you for any potential signs of infection or other complications.

As you recover in the hospital, you'll be encouraged to get up and move around as soon as you can safely do so. When you're discharged, you'll receive another set of instructions to guide your at-home care.

Pay careful attention to these guidelines, including when you can resume normal activities, including work.

Prepare for your surgery

You can trust that your surgical team has your best interests at heart. Your surgeon can answer any questions you have, so you feel confident in your care.