Dean Hoffman is one of the lucky few. He knows the abdominal aneurysm discovered during a screening could have killed him. Aneurysms are the 13^th leading cause of death in the U.S.

"It's very sneaky and it's deadly," says Hoffman. "If it bursts, chances are they're not going to pull you through," he adds.

At Alegent Health, instead of traditional surgery, surgeons make two mini incisions to use a new kind of graft to fix the balloon-shaped aneurysm before it ruptures.

The main part of the stent is about the size of a number two pencil and it means less time in the hospital and a faster recovery.

Once the stent is in place, it creates a new passageway for the blood, and it seals in place.

The public began to hear more about abdominal aneurysm stents when they were used on comedian Rodney Dangerfield and presidential contender Bob Dole.

Yearly physical exams give you the best chance of detecting an aneurysm. It's usually too late if it ruptures.

"The trouble is," says Dr. Thomas Webb, Director of Vascular Surgery Services at Alegent Health Heart and Vascular Institute, "if you rupture on our doorstep, the chances of survival are only one in four, or 25%, even in the best of hands."

Doctors check Dean's graft every six months, but this farmer and bowler remains active.

If you have a family history of abdominal aneurysms, you may need more intensive screening, and should check with your doctor.

Find out more about the Alegent Health Heart and Vascular Institute.