The piece of material is then pushed into place and position with hooks. The hooks are imbedded in the artery. A balloon expands the device and creates a seal. Not all aneurysms need surgery, but doctors watch them closely. If they keep ballooning, they need to be fixed.
People can lessen the risk by controlling their blood pressure and cholesterol.
Warning signs of abdominal aneurysms are chest pains, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, persistent coughs, a throbbing lump in your abdomen and lost appetite or weight. Copyright 2001 by ThePittsburghChannel. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Information about privacy policy , terms of use and our ad policy .