Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm is a disease of abdominal aorta; one of the aortas supplying blood from the heart to whole body, located around abdomen. Caused by arteriosclerosis and such, the aorta becomes enlarged like a lump and may eventually rupture which leads to death.
Patients in most cases have no subjective symptoms, so it is usually found by chance when ultrasound or CT scan is performed for other illnesses or for a periodical check-up. An emergency surgery is required if the size and shape of the aneurysm suggests high risk of rupture.

Minimally Invasive Treatment for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

With the conventional open surgical repair, the physical burden of the procedure on patients is heavy and some patients such as elderly or patients with comorbidity may not endure. We were the first to introduce a new minimally invasive treatment for AAA called Endovascular Stent-grafting that is performed without opening abdomen and with less burden for patients.

Endovascular Stent-grafting is a less burdensome treatment without making a large incision in the abdomen but only small incisions in the groin (leg joints), to insert a synthetic blood vessel (stent graft) reinforced with a metal wire.
This operation is performed under general or local anesthesia. It usually takes one to three hours, and most of the patients can return to daily life in their recovery in four to six weeks after short-term hospitalization.

Our Approach to Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

We conducted a clinical trial of a stent graft made by a US company at four Japanese facilities with the aim to commercialize it. We obtained the first regulatory approval of a stent graft in Japan in 2006 by providing the evaluation of its safety and efficacy for Japanese patients, and we have endeavored to prevail this safe treatment method of Endovascular Stent-grafting in Japan.
Endovascular Stent-grafting is now available at more than 500 medical centers and is widely conducted as a safe and effective procedure throughout Japan. We also have introduced another stent graft made by a UK company in 2014. Our distribution of this product has allowed more patients to receive stent graft treatments.