Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

For open surgery repair, the doctor cuts open the belly and replaces the bulging part of the aorta with a special tube called a "graft." It is sewn into place. Blood can flow normally through it.

To repair the aorta with an endovascular stent graft, the doctor cuts into a blood vessel in the thigh (at the spot where the thigh meets the rest of the body). They insert a folded graft into the blood vessel. Then, they move the graft up to the bulging part of the aorta and unfold it. This type of graft is not sewn into place. Blood flows through the graft.