Patient Education
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Open Repair
Abdominal aortic aneurysm open repair is a surgery to fix an aortic aneurysm in the abdominal area. An aneurysm is a weak or damaged part of an artery wall that bulges out. It is caused by the normal force of blood pumping through the body. An abdominal aortic aneurysm is an aneurysm that happens in the lower part of the aorta, which is the main artery of the body.
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Might burst, or rupture, causing bleeding inside the body. The bigger the aneurysm, the higher the risk that it will rupture.
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Causes symptoms such as pain in the back, abdomen, or side.
In an open repair, a small tube of man-made material (aortic graft) is placed in the damaged or weak part of the aorta to repair it.
Tell a health care provider about:
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Any allergies you have.
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All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
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Any problems you or family members have had with anesthetic medicines.
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Any blood disorders you have.
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Any surgeries you have had.
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Any medical conditions you have, including any recent symptoms of colds or infections.
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Whether you are pregnant or may be pregnant.
What are the risks?
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Infection.
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Bleeding.
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Allergic reactions to medicines.
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Damage to nearby structures or organs, including nerves and intestines.
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Lung problems.
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Heart attack.
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Blood clots.
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Very low blood pressure.
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Kidney damage.
What happens before the procedure?
Staying hydrated
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Up to 2 hours before the procedure – you may continue to drink clear liquids, such as water, clear fruit juice, black coffee, and plain tea.
Eating and drinking restrictions
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8 hours before the procedure – stop eating heavy meals or foods, such as meat, fried foods, or fatty foods.
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6 hours before the procedure – stop eating light meals or foods, such as toast or cereal.
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6 hours before the procedure – stop drinking milk or drinks that contain milk.
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2 hours before the procedure – stop drinking clear liquids.
Medicines
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Changing or stopping your regular medicines. This is especially important if you are taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.
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Taking medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your blood. Do not take these medicines unless your health care provider tells you to take them.
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Taking over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, herbs, and supplements.
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Taking medicines to clean out your intestines (bowel prep).
Tests
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Blood tests.
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Tests to check your heart rhythm (electrocardiogram, or ECG).
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Ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI to check the size and location of the aneurysm.
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A stress test, if you have signs of heart problems.
General instructions
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Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco for at least 4 weeks before the procedure. These products include cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and chewing tobacco. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
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Plan to have someone take you home from the hospital or clinic.
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Plan to have a responsible adult care for you for at least 24 hours after you leave the hospital or clinic. This is important.
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Ask your health care provider:
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How your surgery site will be marked.
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What steps will be taken to help prevent infection. These may include:
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Removing hair at the surgery site.
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Washing skin with a germ-killing soap.
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Taking antibiotic medicine.
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What happens during the procedure?
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An IV will be inserted into one of your veins.
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You will be given one or both of the following:
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A medicine to help you relax (sedative).
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A medicine to make you fall asleep (general anesthetic).
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A thin tube (catheter) will be placed in your bladder to drain urine during and after surgery.
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A tube will be placed through your nose and into the stomach (nasogastric or NG tube). This will remove fluids from your stomach.
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A small tube (epidural catheter) may be placed into your lower spine. It will be used to give pain medicine during and after surgery.
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The surgeon will make an incision in your abdomen in the area of the aneurysm.
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Clamps will be put on the abdominal aorta. One will be put above the aneurysm, and one will be put below it. This will stop the blood flow.
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The surgeon will open the aneurysm. He or she will then:
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Sew the graft to healthy parts of the aorta, right above and below the aneurysm.
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Wrap the walls of the open aneurysm around the graft.
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Sew the artery closed.
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The clamps will be removed. This will let the blood flow again.
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The incision will be closed using stitches (sutures) or staples. It will then be covered with a bandage (dressing).
The procedure may vary among health care providers and hospitals.
What happens after the procedure?
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Your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood oxygen level will be monitored until you leave the hospital or clinic.
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You may be given pain medicine through the epidural catheter.
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Many of the tubes placed during surgery will be left in place during the first few hours or days of recovery.
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Ultrasound may be done to check that the repair was done correctly.
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You may be asked to cough and do deep breathing exercises. This helps prevent infection in the lungs.
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You may have to wear compression stockings to prevent blood clots and reduce swelling in your legs.
Summary
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Abdominal aortic aneurysm open repair is a surgery to fix an aortic aneurysm in the abdominal area.
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Tell your health care provider about all medical conditions or surgeries you have or have had. Also, tell him or her about any allergies or blood disorders you have.
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Your surgeon will make an incision in your abdomen, clamp the aorta to stop blood flow, open the aneurysm, and sew the graft to the healthy part of the aorta.
This information is not intended to replace advice given to you by your health care provider. Make sure you discuss any questions you have with your health care provider.
