Anesthesia for Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Abdominal aortic aneurysm, a localized expansion of the aorta below the diaphragm, may remain completely asymptomatic for years. The major complication resulting from the disease is eventual aneurysm rupture. The definitive treatment for abdominal aortic aneurysm requires placement of a prosthetic graft to replace the weakened section of the artery. The endovascular aortic aneurysm repair is a relatively new procedure. This minimally invasive approach has been associated with improved 30-day mortality. In this chapter, we present a brief description of anesthesia considerations for endovascular aortic aneurysm repair.