Podcast: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair

An endovascular repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm will be featured live over the Internet as part of the hospital's continuing series of real time web casting of surgical procedures. The procedure will take place April 13 at 4 p.m. An aortic aneurysm is an abnormal bulge in the wall of the aorta, the body's largest artery. This artery extends from the heart down through the chest and abdominal region, where it divides into blood vessels that supply each leg. If an aortic aneurysm ruptures it can cause life-threatening internal bleeding. The risk of an aneurysm rupturing increases as the aneurysm grows beyond five centimeters in diameter (two inches). Approximately 15,000 Americans die...