While surgery on aneurysms is often done on an emergency basis, there are cases where you may elect to have a known aneurysm removed by a qualified and experienced vascular surgeon, such as Dr. Mauricio Heilbron of Encore Surgery and Aesthetics in Los Alamitos, California. Well-schooled in many forms of vascular surgical techniques, Dr. Heilbron is the right choice. Call the office or schedule a consultation online.
Vascular surgery refers to any procedure performed on blood vessels in your body. Typically, surgery is an intervention to either fix obstructions or repair weak spots in your blood vessels. While vascular surgery is obviously performed by vascular surgeons, such as Dr. Heilbron, these specialized surgeons do much more than simply operate on blood vessels.
As much as 80% of Dr. Heilbron’s time is spent avoiding surgery, since there’s risk and recovery time associated with surgical procedures. If there’s a less invasive way to treat a vascular problem, it’s often the best solution. Even when surgery is necessary, there are often minimally invasive alternatives to traditional surgical techniques.
Dr. Heilbron considers all aspects of your situation before making his best recommendation. As a specialist in aneurysm and carotid surgery, you are assured of the best vascular care possible.
Any time an artery wall develops a weak spot that permits a balloon-like expansion, the resulting bulge is called an aneurysm. Aneurysms develop for several reasons, though sometimes these reasons are unknown. You may be born with weak spots in your arteries, or these may result from injury or disease.
If members of your family have had aneurysms, you’re more likely to develop your own. Smoking, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure are also contributing risk factors. While aneurysms can occur anywhere in your body, the most common locations are:
Treatment of an aneurysm depends on several factors, including the location, size, and severity. Small aneurysms found early and before causing symptoms may only need monitoring. Once an aneurysm requires treatment, preserving your normal routine becomes the goal, and therefore treating the aneurysm seeks to prevent it from growing or rupturing while preventing or correcting damage suffered by other parts of the body.
Medications may be used instead of or before surgery. These include drugs that reduce the risk of rupture by lowering blood pressure or relaxing blood vessels. Surgical solutions can include removing the aneurysm or strengthening the affected blood vessel with grafts or stents.
