The repair or removal of an aneurysm, which is a weakened, abnormal outpouching within the wall of the aorta. The aorta is the bodys largest artery, which originates in the heart and has many branches to deliver blood throughout the body.
Aortic Aneurysm Repair/Removal
Parts of the Body Involved
The aorta:
- 75% of aortic aneurysms involve the part of the aorta that passes through the abdomen (abdominal aortic aneurysms)
- 25% of aortic aneurysms involve the part of the aorta that passes through the chest (thoracic aortic aneurysms)
Reasons for Procedure
- To prevent rupture of an aneurysm, which would cause severe, life-threatening bleeding
- To remove a ruptured aneurysm and repair the damaged aorta
Risk Factors for Complications during the Procedure
- Emergency surgery due to a burst aneurysm
- Severe hemorrhage
- Low blood pressure
- Shock
- Cardiovascular disease, including angina or a previous heart attack
- Cerebrovascular disease, including previous episodes of transient ischemic attacks
- Pre-existing lung disease
- Debilitation due to cancer
- Diabetes
- Obesity
What to Expect
Prior to Procedure
Your physician will likely do some or all of the following:
Description of the Procedure - Depending on the exact location of the aneurysm, blood flow may need to be diverted to a heart-lung machine, which will temporarily do the jobs of providing the blood with oxygen and circulating the blood through your body.
The surgeon makes an incision in the abdomen or chest, over the area of the aneurysm. The aorta is clamped above and below the aneurysm. The surgeon opens the aneurysm, cleans out any debris, and then sews a dacron tube (graft) in place to re-connect the two ends of the aorta. The tissue of the aneurysm is then wrapped around the outside of the graft.
When the graft is properly in place, the clamps are released, allowing blood flow to resume through the aorta. The incision is closed, using either stitches or staples, and covered with a sterile dressing.
After Procedure - Youll need to stay in the intensive care unit for the first day or so after surgery so that your vital signs can be carefully and continuously monitored; youll then be moved to a regular hospital room.
How Long Will It Take? About one hour
Will It Hurt? Anesthesia prevents pain during surgery
Possible Complications:
Average Hospital Stay: 4-7 days
Postoperative Care:
Monitoring your condition. Youll be hooked up to monitors to track your heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, and blood oxygen levels for the first day or two after surgery. Also, your surgeon may order blood tests, chest x-rays, EKG, and ultrasound of the repaired area of the aorta.
Dealing with nausea. You may be nauseated for a few hours after surgery. 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 wont be able to eat or drink until this is removed and youre no longer nauseated, so youll continue to receive fluids and sugar through an IV. Once you begin eating, you may need to eat a lighter, blander diet than usual.
Preventing blood clots. You may be given special compression stockings to wear after surgery to decrease the possibility of blood clots forming in your legs.
Improving lung function. You may be asked to use an incentive spirometer, to breathe deeply, and to cough frequently, in order to improve lung function after general anesthesia.
Your physician will likely do some or all of the following:
- Physical exam
- Blood tests
- X-rays
- Ultrasound a test that uses sound waves to find the aneurysm
- CT scan a type of x-ray that uses a computer to make pictures of the inside of the body
- MRI scan a test that uses magnetic waves to make pictures of the inside of the body
- Cardiac catheterization the insertion of a tube-like instrument into the heart through a vein or artery (usually in the arm or leg) to detect problems with the heart and its blood supply
- Electrocardiogram a test that records the hearts activity by measuring electrical currents through the heart muscle
- The night before, eat a light meal and do not eat or drink anything after midnight
- You may be given laxatives and/or an enema to clean out your intestines
- You may be asked to shower the morning o your procedure, and you may be given special antibacterial soap to use
- Arrange for help at home after returning from the hospital
- Arrange for a ride to and from the procedure
- IV fluids
- Sedation
- Anesthesia
- A breathing tube will be used during surgery but will be removed when you begin to awaken from the anesthetic
- You may require a tube through your nose and into your stomach to remove accumulated stomach acid and fluids
- You may require a catheter in your bladder until a few hours after the operation is completed
Description of the Procedure - Depending on the exact location of the aneurysm, blood flow may need to be diverted to a heart-lung machine, which will temporarily do the jobs of providing the blood with oxygen and circulating the blood through your body.
The surgeon makes an incision in the abdomen or chest, over the area of the aneurysm. The aorta is clamped above and below the aneurysm. The surgeon opens the aneurysm, cleans out any debris, and then sews a dacron tube (graft) in place to re-connect the two ends of the aorta. The tissue of the aneurysm is then wrapped around the outside of the graft.
When the graft is properly in place, the clamps are released, allowing blood flow to resume through the aorta. The incision is closed, using either stitches or staples, and covered with a sterile dressing.
After Procedure - Youll need to stay in the intensive care unit for the first day or so after surgery so that your vital signs can be carefully and continuously monitored; youll then be moved to a regular hospital room.
How Long Will It Take? About one hour
Will It Hurt? Anesthesia prevents pain during surgery
Possible Complications:
- Severe bleeding
- Kidney failure
- Respiratory distress
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Infection
- If blood circulation is cut off to the limbs or intestines, these tissues could be deprived of oxygen, leading to tissue death
- Damage to nerves in the area, leading to sexual problems (such as impotence)
- Blood clots and complications if these blood clots break off and travel through the circulatory system
Average Hospital Stay: 4-7 days
Postoperative Care:
Monitoring your condition. Youll be hooked up to monitors to track your heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, and blood oxygen levels for the first day or two after surgery. Also, your surgeon may order blood tests, chest x-rays, EKG, and ultrasound of the repaired area of the aorta.
Dealing with nausea. You may be nauseated for a few hours after surgery. 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 wont be able to eat or drink until this is removed and youre no longer nauseated, so youll continue to receive fluids and sugar through an IV. Once you begin eating, you may need to eat a lighter, blander diet than usual.
Preventing blood clots. You may be given special compression stockings to wear after surgery to decrease the possibility of blood clots forming in your legs.
Improving lung function. You may be asked to use an incentive spirometer, to breathe deeply, and to cough frequently, in order to improve lung function after general anesthesia.
Outcome
Recovery takes about six weeks. If you had symptoms from your aneurysm before the surgery, you may notice some improvements in your health, such as more strength and less swelling in your legs, lower blood pressure, improved energy, and absence of pain from the aneurysm.
Call Your Doctor If Any of the Following Occurs
- Swelling or pain in your abdomen
- Nausea and/or vomiting that you cant control with the medications you were given after surgery, or which persist for more than two days after discharge from the hospital
- Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, or discharge from the incision site
- Signs of infection, including fever and chills
- Cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, or severe nausea or vomiting
- Pain, burning, urgency, or frequency of urination, or persistent bleeding in the urine
- Pain and/or swelling in your feet, calves, or legs, sudden shortness of breath or chest pain
Categories
Featured Articles
» Mesothelioma
» Accutane
» Ovarian Cyst
» Dyspepsia
» Biotin
» Tailbone Fracture
» Phlebitis
» Kissing Disease
» Calf Muscle Strain
» Ulcers
» Myringotomy
» Hernia Repair
» Flaxseed
» Arginine
» Brittle Nails
» Fish Oil
» Inositol
» Antacids
» Dialysis
» Childbirth Vaginal
» Liver Cirrhosis
» Relieving Gas