Aortic Aneurysm

After an evaluation by the heart team and undergoing appropriate testing, you will meet our nurse educator who will give you a booklet and talk to you about the stepwise progression you will be expected to make through your heart surgery. Your medications will be discussed, and you may be asked to stop certain medications up to one week before the procedure. It is important to plan ahead and make arrangements for transportation to and from the hospital and also help at home after the procedure.

After arriving at the admitting area, heart patients are seen by the operating room team, including the anesthesia team who start an intravenous line to give medications. The family will be asked to stay in the waiting area until the aortic root surgery is complete. Patients are placed on a ventilator for the duration of the surgery and a few hours after surgery. The aortic root surgery can last several hours depending on the complexity and on the findings in the operating room. After completion of the surgery, the heart surgeon will speak to the family about the procedure and answer any questions, including expected aortic surgery recovery time.

Aortic root surgery patients are usually in the hospital for five to seven days. The stay in the ICU is usually for the first 24 hours, followed by a transfer to a monitored bed on the floor. Most patients begin walking the day after surgery. We have a large team of people who specialize in the various aspects of recovery to work with you, teach you and instruct you on the best practices for your recovery. Follow-up visits in the clinic are at two weeks and four weeks after aortic root surgery.