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Peripheral Vascular Aneurysm Stent Exclusion

Peripheral vascular aneurysm stent exclusion is a minimally invasive procedure that is used seal off an aneurysm in an artery.

Peripheral vasculature refers to blood vessels (arteries and veins) that are located outside the heart and brain. Normally, blood flows freely through the blood vessels. An aneurysm is caused by a weakening of a blood vessel wall. This results in swelling or out-pouching of the weakened area. If the walls of the aneurysm get weaker the blood vessel may rupture or break.

To begin a stent exclusion of an aneurysm, a thin guide wire is inserted into a small incision in the arm or upper thigh. This process is usually visualized using x-rays and a special dye that helps reveal the arteries (called angiography). This guide wire is carefully guided through the blood vessels until it reaches the the artery with the aneurysm. Then a thin tube called a catheter is inserted over the guide wire. The catheter contains a small collapsed stent. The catheter is withdrawn, revealing a collapsed stent that expands to the width of the artery. Blood flows through the stent. The aneurysm is sealed off preventing it from growing larger and potentially rupturing. The catheter and guide wire are removed from the body. The stent remains and the size of the aneurysm will reduce over time.

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Visit Ohio Heart and Vascular Center for more information.