After the Procedure:

Most people stay in the hospital for 5 to 10 days. During a hospital stay, you will:

• Be in the intensive care unit (ICU), where you will be monitored very closely right after surgery. You may need a breathing machine during the first day.
• Have a urinary catheter
• Have a tube that goes through your nose into your stomach to help drain fluids for 1 or 2 days. You will then slowly begin drinking, then eating.
• Receive medicine to keep your blood thin
• Be encouraged to sit on the side of the bed and then walk
• Wear special stockings to prevent blood clots in your legs
• Be asked to use a breathing machine to help clear your lungs
• Receive pain medicine into your veins or into the space that surrounds your spinal cord (epidural)

Outlook (Prognosis):

Full recovery for open surgery to repair an aortic aneurysm may take 2 or 3 months. Most people make a full recovery from this surgery.

Most people who have an aneurysm repaired before it breaks open (ruptures) have a good outlook.