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Clinical Resource: Aortic Aneurysms: Risks, Diagnosis & Advanced Treatment Options

Description

Aortic aneurysms are life-threatening if left untreated — often compared to balloons that can rupture as they enlarge. In this video, Dr. Andre Ramdon, vascular surgeon at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS), explains what aortic aneurysms are, why early detection is crucial, and how advancements in vascular surgery are saving lives. Learn how most aneurysms are discovered incidentally through imaging for unrelated conditions, and why ongoing monitoring is essential once diagnosed. Dr. Ramdon also discusses minimally invasive stent graft procedures and open surgical options — including cutting-edge solutions for complex aneurysms involving the kidney and intestinal blood vessels. UAMS offers a full spectrum of care, tailored for each patient, especially those previously considered inoperable due to age or frailty. Discover how innovative treatment options are helping patients avoid rupture and return home with improved quality of life.

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Video: Aortic Aneurysms: Risks, Diagnosis & Advanced Treatment Options | UAMS Health Vascular Surgery

Transcript

Aortic aneurysms are a dilation of the aorta  itself and they’re like balloons the larger they get the more likely the chance of it  to rupture. Unfortunately rupture is with significant consequences and the ability  to get to hospital is not always possible. The mortality associated with a ruptured aneurism  is more than 50%. As a result we’d like to treat these aneurisms before it gets to that stage.  It is important that if you find an aneurysm that that keeps getting monitored and there are  many different types of aneurysms so you should probably find a vascular surgeon or specialist  to help evaluate those aneurysms. Here at the university we offer the most complete wide array  of care for aneurysms. This could involve stents which are usually placed minimally invasively  and the other extent of the spectrum is also
open surgery where we could replace the entire  thoracic aorta all the way to the abdomen. Most aortic aneurysms are actually diagnosed  for tests done for other pathologies and so you may have a CT scan for some other reason  whether it be trauma, other GI problems,
and that’s where it’s picked up. Ultrasounds are also pretty good modalities for screening for aneurysms and this is usually recommended for over 65 years old in somebody who has smoked once this is detected then this be monitored  and that is dictated based on how large it is. The most recent advancement in aortic technology  is with respect to the areas that involves the kidney blood vessels or the blood vessels to the  intestines. We are able to provide coverage with stent graft which are very recently approved by  the FDA and allow for sealing of these aneurysms and prevent rupture previously open surgery  is considered the only thing that’s available
but most patients are elderly and frailer and  they would like to get back to their families.

Related Conditions

Related Providers

Andre R. Ramdon, M.D.

Andre R. Ramdon, M.D. Vascular Surgeon

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Related Areas of Expertise

Circulatory system

Vascular Care

The highly trained vascular surgeons of UAMS Health offers unmatched expertise in comprehensive vascular care solutions.

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