Aneurysm RepairsWhen the aorta, a major artery, develops a weak spot, enlarges, or bulges/balloons outward, it is referred to as an aortic aneurysm. Usually occurring between the middle and lower abdomen (abdominal aortic aneurysm) or in the chest (thoracic aortic aneurysm), most aneurysms display few or no warning signs and many people are unaware of the problem until a physician detects it through an ultrasound test or CT scan. For those Floridians who do experience warning signals, clammy skin, nausea/vomiting, and rapid heart rate might be present. Sudden, persistent, severe pain in the abdomen or back that radiates in the legs and/or groin is also a strong indicator that should not be ignored.
Most aneurysms develop slowly over the years, and often, all that is required are periodic (usually six months to a year) MRIs to monitor for changes. But if the bulge grows to a dangerous size, or the vein bursts (ruptured aneurysm), or blood leaks along the wall of the vessel (aortic dissection), requiring emergency surgery, you want the best thoracic surgeon in Florida. Ocala Heart Institute not only offers you some of the most highly regarded physicians in the country, we give you an entire team of medical professionals who approach your cardiovascular health care with a united front and one goal: to restore your health that extends your life.
Open abdominal surgery, a procedure in which the aneurysm is cut open, and an artificial graft is attached to the sides of the aorta, connecting the aorta above and below the aneurysm, is only one option. A less invasive procedure, endovascular surgery, is much like bypass grafting: Instead of going in through the abdomen or chest, a catheter threads a stent (a mesh-like tube that holds the vessel open) through the femoral artery in the leg, bypassing or reinforcing the wall of the aneurysm and providing a permanent alternative path for blood flow.
Thoracic surgery in Florida demands the precision, expertise and talent of the gifted surgeons and anesthesiologists at Ocala Heart Institute. We’ll run the necessary tests and explain all options, answering your questions and giving you insight on aspects you might not have considered. Together, we will find the solution that best meets your particular health care need.