Twin Cities Heart and Lung: Before and After Endoluminal Grafts for Endoluminal Grafts for Aortic Aneurysms

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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 Endoluminal Grafts for Aortic Aneurysms:

Before Surgery Instructions

After Surgery Instructions

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Before Surgery Instructions:

Open surgery for aortic aneurysms requires a one to two weeks in the hospital, but with endoluminal grafting, patients need only spend two to three days in the hospital, making the procedure both less expensive and more convenient.

After Surgery Instructions:

Since it is still a relatively serious condition, though, for those few days in the hospital your heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, and blood oxygen levels will be monitored for the first day or two after surgery. Also, to confirm the results, your surgeon may order blood tests, chest x-rays, EKG, and ultrasound of the repaired area of the aorta.

Because of the anesthesia, you may feel nauseated for a few hours after the procedure. Depending on various factors, your surgeon may have placed a nasogastric tube through your nose and into your stomach to drain accumulated fluids and stomach acid. You won't be able to eat or drink until this is removed and you're no longer nauseated, so you'll continue to receive fluids and sugar through an IV. Once you begin eating, you may need to eat a lighter, blander diet than usual.

You may be given special compression stockings to wear after surgery to decrease the possibility of blood clots forming in your legs, and you may also be asked to use an incentive spirometer, to breathe deeply, and to cough frequently, in order to improve lung function after general anesthesia.