What Is an
Aortic Aneurysm?
An aortic aneurysm is a permanent, abnormal widening of the aorta — the main artery that carries blood from the heart to the body — usually to more than one and a half times its normal size. As it grows, the wall becomes weaker and can tear (dissection) or burst (rupture). Aneurysms are treated with regular scans, blood-pressure control and, when they become large, open surgery or a stent-graft (EVAR).
The aorta leaves the heart, arches over in the chest and runs down through the abdomen. Aneurysms are named by where they occur:
- Aortic root & ascending aorta — just above the heart
- Aortic arch — where branches go to the head and arms
- Descending thoracic aorta — in the back of the chest
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) — the most common type
At KG Heart Center, aneurysms of the chest are treated by the cardiac surgery team together with vascular surgery, and abdominal aneurysms by the vascular surgery team.
- Often no symptoms
- Found on ultrasound or CT
- Watch, then repair
- Open surgery or EVAR
- 24/7 emergency team
- Lifelong follow-up
Symptoms &
Risk Factors
Diagnosis & When
Surgery Is Needed
An abdominal ultrasound is a quick, painless way to find and measure an AAA, and international guidelines recommend screening for men over 65 — especially smokers. Chest aneurysms are often first seen on an echocardiogram or chest scan.
A CT angiogram of the aorta gives the exact size, shape and branches of the aneurysm and is used to plan surgery or EVAR. MR angiography is an alternative for some patients. Smaller aneurysms are monitored with scans at regular intervals, with strict blood-pressure control and stopping smoking.
General thresholds from international guidelines; your surgeon decides based on your aneurysm, body size and overall health.
Aortic Aneurysm Treatment
at KG Hospital
Surveillance & Medical Care
For smaller aneurysms: regular ultrasound or CT, blood-pressure control, cholesterol treatment and stopping smoking to slow growth.
WatchAscending Aorta & Bentall
The enlarged ascending aorta is replaced with a fabric graft. The Bentall procedure replaces the aortic root and valve together for complex root disease.
Open surgeryAortic Arch Surgery
Repair of the arch, where blood vessels to the brain branch off, using circulatory arrest and brain-protection techniques.
ComplexEVAR — Stent-Graft Repair
For suitable abdominal aneurysms, a stent-graft is placed inside the aorta through the groin artery, with no abdominal incision. Typically 1 day in ICU and home in 2–3 days.
Minimally invasiveOpen AAA Repair
The aneurysm is replaced with a graft through an abdominal incision. Preferred when anatomy is unsuitable for EVAR and often for younger patients.
DurableEmergency Aortic Surgery
24/7 surgery for ruptured aneurysms and acute aortic dissection (Type A and B), backed by a round-the-clock perfusion team and cardiac ICU.
24/7EVAR vs Open Repair
for Abdominal Aneurysm
| Factor | EVAR | Open Repair |
|---|---|---|
| Incision | Groin puncture — no abdominal cut | Abdominal incision |
| ICU & hospital stay | About 1 day ICU; home in 2–3 days | Longer — usually about a week or more |
| Early risk | Lower 30-day mortality | Higher early risk |
| Follow-up | Lifelong scans (annual CT) | Fewer long-term scans |
| Best suited for | Suitable anatomy, older or higher-risk patients | Complex anatomy, younger patients |
The choice depends on the aneurysm’s shape, your age and fitness, and urgency. Both approaches are available at KG Hospital.
Aortic Dissection —
A Surgical Emergency
Aortic dissection is a tear in the inner layer of the aorta that lets blood split the layers of the artery wall. It typically causes sudden, severe, tearing chest or back pain. Type A dissection, involving the ascending aorta, usually needs emergency surgery; Type B dissection, in the descending aorta, is often treated first with medicines to control blood pressure, with repair if complications develop.
Every hour counts in acute aortic dissection. KG Hospital provides 24/7 emergency aortic dissection repair for Type A and B dissections, with immediate CT angiography, an on-call cardiac surgical and perfusion team, intra-operative TOE, and a dedicated cardiac ICU with IABP and ECMO support next to the operating theatres.
Recovery &
Lifelong Follow-Up
After EVAR, most patients walk the next day and go home in 2–3 days. After open chest or abdominal surgery, patients spend time in the cardiac ICU, then the ward, and recover over several weeks at home with gradual return to activity.
Aortic disease is a lifelong condition. Regular scans check the repair and the rest of the aorta, and controlling blood pressure is essential. Because some aneurysms run in families, close relatives may be advised to have screening.
Aortic Aneurysm Surgery Cost
in Coimbatore
The cost depends on the location and complexity of the aneurysm, whether EVAR (which uses a stent-graft device) or open surgery is chosen, emergency versus planned treatment, and the length of ICU and hospital stay. KG Hospital gives a written estimate after the surgeon has reviewed your CT scan.
KG Hospital is empanelled with 50+ insurers and TPAs and with CMCHIS, PM-JAY, ESI, CGHS and ECHS. Cover varies by policy and scheme, so the insurance desk checks eligibility and sends pre-authorisation, usually within 1–4 hours. Call 0422-4042121, Extn 205. Insurance & cashless details →
Coming from another city or country? Our International Patient Care team shares a free estimate within 48 hours of receiving your reports.
The Aortic Surgery Team
at KG Hospital
Aortic care at KG Hospital brings together cardiac surgeons, senior M.Ch vascular surgeons, cardiac anaesthesiologists, a 24/7 perfusion team, radiologists and cardiac intensivists. Facilities include a Bureau Veritas certified Green OT, heart-lung bypass, intra-operative TOE, IABP and ECMO, and a cardiac ICU adjacent to the theatres.
KG Heart Center is part of KG Hospital, founded in 1974 by Padma Shri awardee Dr G. Bakthavathsalam, and accredited by NABH.
About this page. Written by the KG Heart Center cardiac and vascular surgery team, KG Hospital, Coimbatore. Clinical information is consistent with the international guidelines listed below. Last updated: .
References
- 2024 ESC Guidelines for the management of peripheral arterial and aortic diseases — European Society of Cardiology.
- 2022 ACC/AHA Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Aortic Disease — American College of Cardiology / American Heart Association (key perspectives).
- ESVS 2024 Clinical Practice Guidelines on the Management of Abdominal Aorto-Iliac Artery Aneurysms — European Society for Vascular Surgery (highlights).