Twin Cities Heart and Lung: Before and After an Aortic Aneurysm

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Heart Procedures

Lung Procedures

Vascular Procedures

Glossary of Medical Terms

The surgeons at Twin Cities Heart and Lung believe in patient education. We've designed our site to help you learn about procedures so you can understand them and proceed with your treatment with the knowledge to put your fears to rest.

Before and After an Aortic Aneurysm:

Before Surgery Instructions

After Surgery Instructions

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Before Surgery Instructions:

Before you undergo this procedure, there are a number of tests that need to be done; these tests fall into two categories: those to assess your general fitness and suitability for aneurysm surgery, and some immediate pre-operative tests. The fitness and suitability tests typically take place before you and your surgeon decide to operate, and help determine whether surgery would be the best approach for your case. They normally include blood tests, ECG (electrical test of the heart), echocardiogram (an ultrasound test of the heart), chest X-ray, a breathing test, and a CT scan (special X-ray scan) of the aneurysm itself.

If you decide upon surgery, immediate pre-operative tests include more blood tests, another ECG, and completing the paperwork. These immediate pre-operative tests are usually completed at a pre-admission visit to the hospital a few days before your operation. They may sometimes be done when you are admitted for the operation.

When you arrive at the hospital for the operation, please bring any medications you are taking at the time. You will be admitted to your bed by one of the nurses who will also complete your nursing record. Your surgeon who will be performing the operation will visit, as well as the doctor who will give you the anesthetic. Physical therapists and intensive care staff may also stop by, to give you information about your postoperative care. If you have any remaining questions about the operation please ask the doctors.

After Surgery Instructions:

After the operation, most patients spend one or two days in the Intensive Care Unit so that medical staff can keep a close eye on your recovery. You may have to remain on a breathing machine for a short period after the operation, but you will be taken off this as soon as possible. Following this sort of surgery, your digestive system stops working temporarily, which means that you will be fed and hydrated intravenously for a time. Because of incidental blood loss during surgery, a blood transfusion may be required to return your blood supply to normal levels.

Your medical staff will try and keep you free of pain using various medications, whether by injection, epidural tube in your back, or with a machine where you control the dosage yourself. As you continue to heal and your bodily functions return to normal, the various tubes will be removed and you will get to move to a standard hospital room until you are ready to return home (typically eight to ten days after the operation).