Version July 2025
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What are discharge instructions? —
Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care for a health problem.
What is an aortic aneurysm repair? —
This is surgery to treat aortic aneurysms (figure 1 and figure 2 and figure 3). An aortic aneurysm is a problem with the aorta. The aorta is the main blood vessel that comes out of the heart. With an aortic aneurysm, part of the aorta balloons out or bulges.
How long it takes for you to recover, and what you need to do, depends on which type of surgery you had. If you had an endovascular repair, you might be able to return to your normal activities sooner. With open surgery, it usually takes longer to recover.
How do I care for myself at home? — Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure that you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.
You should also:
●Take all of your medicines as instructed.
•Make sure that you know when to start taking any medicines you stopped for the procedure.
•Take non-prescription medicines to relieve pain. These can be used instead of opioids. Ask your doctor which medicines are best for you to take.
•Use a stool softener to help prevent constipation, if needed. This is a common problem if you take opioid pain medicines. Follow all instructions for taking your pain medicines.
●Take care of your incision – You might have stitches, skin staples, surgical glue, or a special skin tape on your incision.
•Keep your incision dry and covered with a bandage for the first 1 to 2 days after surgery. Your doctor or nurse will tell you exactly how long to keep it dry.
•Once you no longer need to keep your incision dry, gently wash it with soap and water whenever you take a shower. Do not put it underwater, such as in a bath, pool, or lake. This can slow healing and raise your chance of getting an infection.
•After you wash your incision, pat it dry. Your doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to put an antibiotic ointment on it. They will also tell you if you need to cover it with a bandage or gauze.
•Always wash your hands before and after you touch your incision or bandage.
●Increase your activity slowly – Start with short walks around your home, and walk a little more each day.
•Keep coughing and doing deep breathing exercises for 7 to 10 days after you go home. This helps prevent lung infections. When you cough, sneeze, or do deep breathing exercises, press a pillow across your incision to support the wound and ease pain.
•Avoid heavy lifting, sports, and swimming for at least a week or 2. (Your doctor or nurse will tell you exactly how long to avoid these or other activities.)
•If you had an open aortic aneurysm repair, your doctor might tell you not to drive again until your belly or chest has healed.
●Eat when you are hungry – If your doctor or nurse gave you specific instructions about what to eat or avoid, follow them.
What follow-up care do I need? — The doctor will want to see you again after surgery to check on your progress. Go to these appointments. They will also want you to have imaging tests to check on your aneurysm repair, especially if you had an endovascular repair.
If you have stitches or staples, you will need to have them taken out. Your doctor will usually want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks. Some stitches absorb on their own and do not need to be removed. If the doctor used skin glue or skin tape, it will fall off on its own. Do not pick at it or try to remove it yourself.
When should I call the doctor? —
Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if you:
●Feel short of breath or have trouble breathing
●Have sharp or severe chest pain when you breathe
●Are coughing up blood
●Have signs of stroke, like sudden:
•Numbness or weakness of the face, arm, or leg, especially on 1 side of the body
•Confusion, or trouble speaking or understanding
•Trouble seeing in 1 or both eyes
•Trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination
•Severe headache with no known cause
●Have signs of a heart attack like:
•Severe chest pain, pressure, or discomfort with:
-Breathing trouble, sweating, upset stomach, or cold and clammy skin
-Pain in your arms, back, or jaw
-Worse pain with activity like walking up stairs
•Fast or irregular heartbeat
•Feeling dizzy, faint, or weak
Call for advice if:
●You have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills.
●You have redness, drainage, or swelling around your incisions.
●You have new pain, or pain that is worse in your chest, back, or belly.
●One or both of your legs becomes pale, cool, weak, or numb.
Patient education: Aortic aneurysm repair (The Basics)
Patient education: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (The Basics)
Patient education: Thoracic aortic aneurysm (The Basics)
Patient education: Aortic dissection (The Basics)
Patient education: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (Beyond the Basics)
