Common Conditions
Aortic Aneurysms: Patient Information Sheet - Post-Operation
Overview
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Aortic Aneurysms Post-operative
You will usually be taken to an intensive care or high dependency unit following your operation in order to be able to monitor your progress closely. It is sometimes necessary for you to remain on a breathing machine for a period after the operation but you will be taken off this as soon as possible.
Following this sort of surgery the bowel stops working for a while and you will be given all the fluids you require in a drip until your bowel will cope with fluids by mouth. A blood transfusion may also be required. The nurses and doctors will try and keep you free of pain by giving pain killers by injection, via a tube in your back, or by a machine that you are able to control yourself by pressing a button. As the days pass and you improve the various tubes will be removed and you will be returned to the normal ward until you are fit enough to go home. You will be visited by the physiotherapist before and after your operation who will help you with your breathing to prevent you developing a chest infection and with your walking.
The wounds have a dressing which may show some staining with old blood in the first 24 hours. Most patients prefer to keep a dressing on the wound to protect it from rubbing from clothing. There may be some purple bruising around the wound which spreads downward by gravity and fades to a yellow colour after 2 to 3 days. It is not important. There may be some swelling of the surrounding skin which also improves over 2 to 3 weeks After 7 to 10 days, slight crusts on the wound will fall off. Occasionally minor match head sized blebs form on the wound line. These settle down after discharging a blob of yellow fluid for a day or so. You can wash the wound area 48 hours after the operation. Soap and warm tap water are entirely adequate. Salted water is not necessary. You can shower or take a bath as often as you want.
You will be given an appointment to visit the Outpatient Department about two weeks after you leave hospital. If your sutures have not still dissolved they will be removed at this time. Please ask the nurses for sick notes, certificates etc, the day before discharge.
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