DEBORAH launches aortic aneurysm program

Aortic aneurysms kill 15,000 Americans each year. A comprehensive new program at Deborah Heart and Lung Center provides patients with one-stop care: diagnosis, management and treatment of aortic aneurysm in one location, right here in South Jersey.

What is an aortic aneurysm?

The aorta is an artery that leads from the heart down the center of the abdomen, where it splits into two vessels to supply the legs with blood. It’s about the diameter of a garden hose and conducts a large amount of blood. An aneurysm is a weakening of the artery wall that causes the artery to bulge as it becomes unable to hold its shape against the pressure of the blood. A ruptured aortic aneurysm causes significant bleeding, and most patients do not survive the event.

Diagnosing and treating aneurysms

Deborah’s physicians use some of the region’s most sophisticated imaging tools to diagnose and monitor aneurysms.
Multislice scans produce three-dimensional color images of the aorta to support diagnosis and treatment decisions. Most aneurysms are monitored until treatment is necessary.
Deborah employs two types of surgeries to treat aortic aneurysm:
Open surgery—the chest or abdomen is opened and the aorta is repaired.
Minimally invasive repair—a fabric support device is attached to a catheter, which is threaded through an incision in the leg to the aneurysm, where the device is positioned to reinforce the artery wall.

Our patients benefit

“Deborah’s South Jersey aortic program offers patients superior diagnostic tools, a dedicated outpatient service for managing the aneurysm and the full range of treatment options to ensure each patient receives treatment specific to his or her condition,” says Gabor Winkler, M.D., Director of General and Vascular Surgery at Deborah. “This combination of exceptional medical services and convenience serves our patients well.”