Endovascular grafting of abdominal aortic aneurysms

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a common condition that vascular nurses see daily in their practice. Ruptured AAA is the thirteenth leading cause of death in the United States. Increasingly, vascular surgeons are facing older patients with severe comorbid conditions and an AAA. These factors have led to the development of less invasive techniques for repairing AAAs. Endovascular grafting is a technique currently being performed on selected patients. Benefits of this procedure include a small femoral incision, fewer cardiopulmonary risks than the traditional surgery, rapid recovery, short hospital stay, and a decrease in overall cost. Nurses are responsible for patient education, assessment, and evaluation of patients undergoing this procedure.