Janet Murphy had no idea how long she had an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
But as a retired nurse, she knew the weak spot—or enlargement—in the body’s main artery posed serious risks. A rupture could be fatal.
That’s why she welcomed an innovative treatment that repaired the abdominal aortic aneurysm in a minimally invasive procedure.
“It’s wonderful. It’s a tremendous relief,” said Murphy, 81, as she recovered in her Grand Rapids, Michigan, home.
Like many people with an abdominal aortic aneurysm, Murphy learned about hers while seeking treatment for something else.
About five years ago, she underwent a CT scan to check for kidney cancer. She didn’t have cancer, but the urologic oncologist told her the scan revealed a bulging section in the part of the abdominal aorta.
Because the aorta is the main blood supplier for the body, a rupture of an aneurysm can cause life-threatening internal bleeding, said Peter Wong, MD, a Spectrum Health vascular surgeon.
Aortic aneurysms were the primary cause of 9,863 deaths in 2014 and a contributing cause in more than 17,215 deaths in the U.S. in 2009, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Murphy consulted Spectrum Health vascular surgeons, who monitored the aneurysm every six months with ultrasounds.
She continued to enjoy life with her husband, Frank, and spending time with their five children, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren. They spent summers at their up-north home in Roscommon, near Higgins Lake.
The aneurysm slowly grew. At first, Murphy hoped she would not need surgery. But, as the aneurysm neared 5 centimeters, she said, “I began to think I had a little time bomb going on in there.”
A scan in April showed the aneurysm measured 5.5 centimeters.
“Dr. Wong came in and said, ‘Now we have the surgical conversation,’” she said.
Twenty years ago, abdominal aortic aneurysms were repaired with open abdominal surgery, Dr. Wong said. That typically would require a week-long hospital stay.
Many are now repaired with covered stent grafts placed through an endovascular procedure—working inside the artery. Surgeons access the femoral arteries through tiny punctures in the groin, like the punctures made to start an IV. Patients typically go home from the hospital the next day.
And Murphy was able to undergo the procedure using a newer technology in stent grafts, the Endologix Ovation abdominal stent graft system. It was developed particularly for patients with smaller blood vessels or other anatomical challenges, such as calcification in the arteries.
Ovation may be a better option for many women because of its lower profile for smaller arteries and the ability to treat challenging cases, Dr. Wong said.
The procedure took place on a May morning at Spectrum Health Fred and Lena Meijer Heart Center.
Dr. Wong placed sheaths into the femoral arteries on each side of the groin. Through them, he deployed the stent graft into the abdominal aorta.
Dr. Wong described Janet’s aorta, with its calcifications, as an area filled with nooks and crannies, “like a coral reef.”
The polymer inside the stent, made of a gel-like material, conformed to the uneven wall of the artery. It allowed blood to flow straight through the newly deployed covered stent grafts, diverting it away from the weakened spot created by the aneurysm.
A recent study of the Ovation stent system found it increased access to endovascular treatment for women with abdominal aortic aneurysms by at least 28 percent.
A week after the procedure, Murphy moved slowly, but felt better and looked forward to heading up north for the summer.
“For the next people facing this, I would say there really isn’t a lot to fear,” she said.
Screening advice
Smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol increase a person’s risk of having an abdominal aortic aneurysm, Dr. Wong said. Having a family member who had an abdominal aortic aneurysm also increases a person’s risk.
He recommends people with the one of these conditions receive ultrasound screenings for an abdominal aortic aneurysm.
In the 50-and-older population, studies show abdominal aortic aneurysms affect 3.9 percent to 7.2 percent of men and between 1 and 1.3 percent of women, according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.
Very nice article. Thank you.
Taylor and I really enjoyed meeting you — and your family! Thanks so much for sharing your story, Janet.
I have one, too. I enjoyed this article. The oncologist found it on the ct scan for my colon cancer. Surgery on the cancer and am cancer free. But now, my internist is watching the aneurysm and it hasn’t grown for many years. I see that Dr. Wong recommended ultrasound screenings and I’m doing ct scans…..one scheduled in October. Was wondering which is better….ultrasound or ct scans? Or does it matter?
Interesting question, Pat. I reached out to Dr. Wong, and sent you an email with his response. Thanks again for being a Health Beat reader! Best wishes, Cheryl (Health Beat editor)
Thank you, Cheryl. I would appreciate you checking with Dr. Wong’s team. Just had my physical with my internist and of course, it was a couple weeks ago. If I had known about this article, I would have asked at that time. Pat
Hi Pat, You’re most welcome. I just sent you an email with his response. Hopefully it helps put your mind at ease. 🙂
I have a father who had a thoracic aneurysm surgically repaired and my mother was discovered to have both an abdominal and thoracic aneurysm, both of which were surgically repaired during a single very major surgery. Both received their wonderful care at Spectrum Meijer Heart Center. My question for Dr. Wong would be when should I and my 3 siblings start screenings for aneurysms with our family history? We are ages 55-60z Also, what type of screening and how often should it be done?
Hi Karen, Dr. Wong suggests you and your siblings start getting your screenings now because you’re all at the right age (50 and older). Call 616.267.8700 as soon as possible to arrange a free screening with Dr. Wong’s office.
I have one too. I feel a lot of relief hearing your story. Mine is at 4.7cm as well as my mother’s. I suffered a massive stroke due to calcification build up on my prosthetic aortic valve. Had this been known in 2014, I may notbeparalyzed todayfrom my Stroke.thank you Janet for your story❤️God bless you….. Maryanne ruppert
I’m so afraid of dying . Last week I was diagnosed with thoracic aortic aneurysm. I was born with a bicuspid valve amd had romantic fever in junior high. My wife amd I have 5 kids my youngest being 8. I’m so afraid I won’t be here. The thoughts I’m my head are overwhelming and watchful waiting is stressful
We highly recommend you discuss your concerns with your doctor or seek a second opinion from another care provider. He or she will be able to provide the best course of action for your individual situation and provide you some options and relief. All the best to you, Cheryl