Overview of aortic aneurysm management in the endovascular era

Management of aortic aneurysm disease has changed in the endovascular era, with the majority of patients opting for stent-graft repair of abdominal and thoracic aneurysms. An understanding of this vascular condition is important for primary care, emergency medicine, medicine specialists, and vascular surgeons alike. Awareness of the patient risk factors for aneurysmal degeneration, sac rupture, and medical management allows physicians to screen appropriate patient populations, which decreases aneurysm-related mortality due to rupture. The evolving endovascular techniques available today have made more patients eligible for this less-invasive repair, which has lower mortality and morbidity compared with open surgery with aorta replacement. This review provides contemporary information on the etiology, natural history, evaluation, and management of aortic aneurysm disease. The complications of prior aortic repair, whether performed via endovascular or open surgery intervention, are equally important to understanding not only for vascular surgeons performing these procedures, but also for primary care, emergency department, and medicine specialists who are evaluating these patients in an office or hospital setting.