Aortic Aneurysm

Every year 15,000 people in this country die from rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysms. This serious condition results from abnormal enlargement of the largest blood vessel in the body. Some aneurysms cause back pain or other non-specific symptoms, but most cases are asymptomatic. GVC’s accredited vascular lab can perform a quick ultrasound to evaluate the size of an aneurysm, which helps determine the risk of rupture.

There are no medications that can reduce the size of an aortic aneurysm, but there are two methods of repair:

  • Open surgical procedures, which involve replacing the diseased aorta with a prosthetic graft, and
  • Endovascular repair of the aneurysms

The endovascular AAA repair, a less invasive procedure, allows surgeons to place a special endograft to expand and cover the diseased aorta. This type of surgery requires minimal surgical incisions and patients are frequently discharged from the hospital the following day. The vascular surgeons at GVC were involved in the early clinical research of this technique and were the first surgeons to place these endografts for aortic aneurysms at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Atlanta.

Thoracic aneurysms can also be treated using endografts. The GVC physicians use the TAG GORE system to repair these types of aneurysms.

Georgia Vascular Clinic (GVC), a pioneer in Atlanta vascular care since 1968, is committed to the diagnosis and expert treatment of all peripheral vascular conditions. The physicians at GVC offer all forms of vascular treatment—including medical management, endovascular technique, and open surgery—a distinction unique to board certified vascular surgeons. GVC is made up of three physicians and has office locations in Atlanta, Alpharetta, Blue Ridge, and Canton. The combined experience of its surgeons and clinical staff, along with its track record for state-of-the-art treatment options and clinical research, makes GVC second to none in the Atlanta area.