Luanda: A 72-year-old patient with a 7.6 cm abdominal aortic aneurysm successfully underwent a highly complex open surgery performed by an Angolan team. An aneurysm is an abnormal dilation and weakening of the wall of an artery, forming a "bubble" or balloon that can occur anywhere in the body, being most common in the brain and aorta. The surgery for the aneurysm in both iliac arteries was performed in Luanda, at the Cardeal Dom Alexandre do Nascimento Hospital Complex (CHDCP). According to Angola Press News Agency, the procedure, considered high-risk due to the patient's age and the size of the dilation, was performed by an all-Angolan team, led by vascular surgeon Leandro Pena. The surgery involved the placement of a Dacron prosthesis graft, with reconstruction of the right common aorto-iliac and left common aorto-femoral arteries. The vascular and endovascular surgeon explained that the patient was admitted to the hospital emergency department with acute arterial ischemia in the left lower limb, having been diagnosed with thrombosis of the aneurysm of the left iliac artery, a situation that motivated the emergency surgery. He clarified that the intervention, lasting approximately five hours, was conducted entirely by an Angolan medical team, representing an important milestone for national medicine. Pena emphasized that this action signifies an advance in the technical and scientific capacity of the country's professionals, resulting from continuous investment in specialized training and the valorization of human capital. He reported that the patient is hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit, conscious and stable, with a RASS score of 0 and a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15, under constant medical supervision. In addition, the doctor explained that the patient also underwent an amputation of the leg due to the risk of rupture resulting from an arterial occlusion. Risk factors for aneurysms include uncontrolled high blood pressure, smoking, family history, advanced age, pre-existing diseases, drug use, and lifestyle. He stated that warning signs include a pulsating sensation in the abdomen, deep and constant pain in the abdomen or lower back that does not subside with positioning, pain radiating to the back, groin or legs, and a swollen abdomen or a pulsating mass upon palpation. Jorge Manuel Rias, the patient who benefited from the surgery, said he feels well and happy. He thanked the team involved in the procedure and promised to quit smoking. "I smoked for many years, but I promise the whole team that from today onwards I will stop smoking," he assured.
