Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Aortic aneurysms are enlarged segments of the aorta, which is the large artery that exits the heart and supplies the entire body with oxygen rich blood. Many factors can contribute to an aortic aneurysm forming, including family history of aortic aneurysm, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, generalized atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), smoking, male sex, and advanced age. Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is the most common type, making up more than 75% of all aortic aneurysms. Once an aneurysm forms, its diameter will usually grow an average of about 3 mm per year. If an AAA grows to more than 5 cm in diameter in a woman or more than 5.5 cm in a man, preemptive repair is recommended to prevent sudden death from rupture of the aneurysm, as long as the benefits outweigh any potential risks. If you have an aortic aneurysm, we can accurately diagnose your aneurysm and tailor a management strategy just for you.
Carotid Artery Disease
The carotid arteries supply blood to the brain. If a carotid artery becomes diseased with plaque, and blood flow to the brain is compromised due to narrowing (or stenosis) of the artery, a stroke could potentially occur. Optimal medical management is always indicated when significant carotid artery disease is diagnosed. Sometimes, surgery or stenting of the artery is indicated to reduce the risk of a future, potentially debilitating stroke. Dr. Hill can quickly determine if a carotid artery stenosis should be treated surgically or only with medications. We can tailor a treatment plan just for you.
