This is an information resource designed to help you understand the nature of a medical condition and the surgical procedure most commonly used to treat it.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm - Heart Surgery - PreOp® Patient Education And Engagement PreOp® http://PreOp.com Patient Education Company Your doctor has recommended that you have surgery to treat an abdominal aortic aneurysm. But what does that actually mean? The aorta is the main blood vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood from your heart to the organs in your body. An aneurysm is a bulge or swelling in a blood vessel. This type of bulge occurs when a blood clot or blood clots develop in the aorta, causing to expand. In your case, your doctor has determined that a portion of the aorta passing through your abdomen - the area between your legs and your chest - has developed a blood clot. In most cases these clots are caused by fatty deposits that build up inside the arteries. Aneurysms are dangerous because the blood clot weakens the blood vessel and can cause it to burst. The surgery your doctor has recommended will remove the blood clot and reinforce the weakened wall of the ao…
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What is an Endoscopy of Large Intestine?
An Endoscopy of Large Intestine is a diagnostic procedure used by your doctor to inspect the inside of your rectum and colon. While it's considered a surgical procedure, endoscopy does not involve an incision.
Instead, your doctor will pass a flexible tube, called an endoscope through your anus and into your rectum and colon.
This tube has a tiny video camera mounted on its tip.
It also contains a small tool used for taking tissue samples.
Your doctor can use the endoscope to inspect the entire lower half of your digestive system.
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Your doctor can use the endoscope to inspect the entire lower half of your digestive system.
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In some cases, the shape of the colon makes it impossible to pass the endoscope as far into the body as the doctor would like.
Your doctor may decide to take a series of x-rays - or even to perform surgery - in order to inspect the hidden area.
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Reasons for undergoing a lower GI endoscopy vary. You may have been suffering from one or more of a number symptoms - including blood in your stool, weight loss, chronic irregularity or other problems associated with the digestive system.
Some gastrointestinal symptoms can be warning signs of serious medical problems and you should take your doctor's recommendation to have an endoscopy very seriously.
Luckily, the vast majority of medical problems diagnosed by endoscopy are treatable and you should look forward to improved health and comfort as a result of the information gathered during the procedure.
Your Procedure:
On the day of your operation, you will be asked to put on a surgical go
You may receive a sedative by mouth and an intravenous line may be put in.
You will then be transferred to the operating table.
To create a better viewing area, your doctor may introduce air into your colon, which may cause you to have a feeling of fullness.
The doctor will then lubricate your rectum and gently insert the endoscope, guiding it into your colon.
You may feel some pressure or tugging, but you shouldn't feel pain.
To better examine abnormal-looking tissues, your doctor may choose to take one or more biopsies.
Small instruments sent through the interior of the endoscope are able to painlessly remove small samples of tissue with a small scissor like tool by simply snipping them free.
Finally, after a thorough exam, the endoscope is carefully removed.
Any tissue specimens removed during the procedure will be sent immediately to a lab for microscopic analysis. Your doctor will tell you when to expect results from those tests.
Your doctor has recommended that you have surgery to treat an abdominal aortic aneurysm. But what does that actually mean?
The aorta is the main blood vessel that carries oxygen-rich blood from your heart to the organs in your body.
An aneurysm is a bulge or swelling in a blood vessel.
This type of bulge occurs when a blood clot or blood clots develop in the aorta, causing to expand.
In your case, your doctor has determined that a portion of the aorta passing through your abdomen - the area between your legs and your chest - has developed a blood clot. In most cases these clots are caused by fatty deposits that build up inside the arteries.
Aneurysms are dangerous because the blood clot weakens the blood vessel and can cause it to burst.
The surgery your doctor has recommended will remove the blood clot and reinforce the weakened wall of the aorta.
Your Procedure:
On the day of your operation, you will be asked to put on a surgical gown.
You may receive a sedative by mouth and an intravenous line may be put in.
You will then be transferred to the operating table.
In the operating room, the anesthesiologist will administer general anesthesia by injection and inhalation mask.
The surgeon will then apply an antiseptic solution to the skin and place a sterile drape around the operative site
After you are unconscious, your doctor will make a vertical incision down the center of your abdomen.
Skin and other tissue will be pulled back in order to expose the abdominal muscles.
Your doctor will carefully divide the muscle in order to expose the abdominal cavity. A special instrument called a retractor will be used to hold the chest open.
Once your doctor has a clear view of the abdomen he or she will gently pull the intestines up and out of the way revealing the aorta and the aneurysm. Now your doctor can begin to remove the clot.
First, he or she will apply clamps to each of the two arteries that branch away from the main artery - temporarily preventing blood from flowing to your legs.
Next, your doctor will clamp the artery above the aneurysm.
Once the blood supply has been shut off in this manner, your doctor will make a vertical incision in the artery wall and two small horizontal incisions to allow access to the damaged area.
The blood clot can then be removed. The surgical team will sew together any damaged blood vessels inside the aorta.
A tube made of a sterile synthetic material can now be inserted into the vessel to provide support and reinforcement.
It is then sewn into place. One by one your doctor will remove the clamps, restoring blood flow to the legs.
After verifying there are no leaks around the surgical field, the team will finally close the vessel with sutures.
Your doctor will restore all internal organs to their proper positions.
The muscles and other tissue can then be closed with sutures.
Finally, the skin is closed with staples and a sterile dressing is applied.
Your doctor has recommended that you undergo a balloon angioplasty with a stent implant. But what does that actually mean?
The heart is located in the center of the chest. It's job is to keep blood continually circulating throughout the body.
The blood vessels that supply the body with oxygen-rich blood are called arteries.
The arteries that supplies blood to the heart muscle itself are called coronary arteries.
Sometimes, these blood vessels can narrow or become blocked by plaque deposits, restricting normal blood flow.
In simple terms, a balloon angioplasty with stent insertion is a procedure used to increase the amount of blood flowing through the coronary artery.
During a balloon angioplasty, a heart specialist will insert a thin tube into an artery in your arm or leg and gently guide it towards the problem area in your heart.
Once the tube is in place, a small balloon is briefly inflated in order to widen the narrowed artery.
A short length of mesh tubing called a stent is then inserted into the newly widened artery.
During and after the procedure, your doctor will take x-rays in order to monitor your progress.
Your Procedure:
On the day of your operation, you will be asked to put on a surgical gown.
You may receive a sedative by mouth and an intravenous line may be put in.
You will then be transferred to the operating table.
To begin, your leg and groin are swabbed with an antiseptic solution.
Then the doctor will make a small cut over the femoral artery in the upper part of the leg.
A special needle is then inserted into the artery itself.
Then a guide wire is carefully passed through the needle and gently pushed into the artery and upwards towards your chest.
A narrow tube, called a catheter is threaded along the wire until it too has reached the coronary artery.
Next, the doctor uses the catheter to inject a dye into the artery itself. The die shows up on a TV monitor and is used to pinpoint the exact location of the blocked area.
Once the restricted area has been identified, a thin wire is inserted into the catheter, and is guided all the way to the blocked area and then slightly beyond.
This wire acts as guide for the balloon catheter. It allows your doctor to position the deflated balloon precisely in the middle of the narrowest part of the coronary artery.
The balloon is briefly inflated. As it expands, it squeezes the plaque deposits against the wall of the artery. It also stretches the artery wall and enlarges the channel through which blood flows.
Your doctor will continue to inflate and deflate the balloon until normal blood flow has been restored.
The balloon catheter is then withdrawn and another balloon catheter is inserted. This balloon has the mesh stent tube wrapped around it.
Once this tube has been placed in the center of now widened area of the artery, the balloon is briefly inflated. The stent expands until it hugs the walls of the artery.
Finally, after a thorough investigation of the region, the catheters and guide wire are withdrawn and the stent remains permanently to provide support to the artery and to resist the buildup of plaque.
The dye that had been injected will break up and leave your body as waste.
Slight pressure is applied to the incision in your leg in order to prevent bleeding.
