Aneurysm Center
With a highly trained team of vascular and cardiothoracic surgeons, the Aneurysm Center at Robert Wood Johnson provides early identification and treatment of patients with aneurysms.
What Is an Aneurysm?
An aneurysm is an enlargement or expansion of a blood vessel that is usually caused by a weakening of the blood vessel wall. Arterial aneurysms can occur in any artery, but most commonly occur in the main artery in the abdomen and chest, the aorta. They can also occur in the arteries in the brain (intracranial or Berry aneurysm) and the legs (popliteal aneurysm).
If an aneurysm develops in the aorta in the chest, it is known as a thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA). Aneurysms in the abdomen are called abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), and those in both the chest and abdomen are called thoraco-abdominal aneurysms.
Aneurysms are frequently called “the silent killers”, as most aneurysms are asymptomatic until they rupture. The potential for aneurysm rupture is greater with increasing aneurysm size. When aneurysms rupture, they cause life-threatening hemorrhage, and potentially, death.
Aneurysm Repair
Surgery is necessary to prevent aneurysm rupture. Aneurysm repair is accomplished via both traditional surgical operations and an increasingly popular minimally invasive method called endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). While traditional open surgical repair provides excellent results, minimally invasive endovascular repair has become the treatment of choice, when possible, for most aneurysms. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital has become the leader in the field of endovascular aneurysm repair in New Jersey, and is the premiere institution for the treatment of patients with complex aneurysmal disease. We pride ourselves on developing innovative solutions for complex aneurysms via a multidisciplinary approach.
Click below to learn about specific types of aneurysms:
