Aneurysms

An aneurysm is an abnormal bulge or ballooning of an artery, caused by weakening of the artery wall. Aortic aneurysms occur in the aorta, the major blood vessel that carries blood from your heart to the rest of the body. Similar to the popping of an overinflated balloon, the aneurysm may rupture if the artery wall stretches too thin. When aneurysms rupture, there is the potential for fatal bleeding.

Our Approach to Aneurysms

UCSF is home to a world-renowned program in endovascular surgery, one of the largest and oldest programs of its kind. Our vascular surgeons helped pioneer many of the endovascular procedures that are used to treat aortic aneurysms today. These minimally invasive procedures offer many benefits compared to traditional open surgery, including faster recovery, less postoperative pain and reduced risk for patients with other medical conditions.

Each year, we perform more than 150 repairs of endovascular aneurysms, more than any other medical center on the West Coast. We have extensive experience with technically challenging surgeries for complex aortic aneurysms, such as those involving arteries supplying blood to the kidneys or intestines.