Recovery from open surgery for aortic aneurysm

[Piranesi]

My 81yo mother has been diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm which will require open surgery. She’s likely to come out of hospital just before Christmas. I’ve read a certain amount online about recovery times and so on but nothing very specific.

I’d be really grateful to know what recovery is like after AAA surgery and if anyone has any experience of supporting a relative through this operation. My mother is partially sighted and lives alone so I know she will need a lot of support. Will she be able to sit up when she gets out of hospital? Use a loo? Get out of bed unaided? I think she’ll get some aftercare but from experience it may not be enough. As I don’t live near her I’d like to be as prepared as possible. Thanks very much in advance.

While I've no experience with that particular operation... my mother had major surgery last year. After surgery she was visited by the occupational therapist to assess her needs. She was prescribed some aids such as a rollator to walk with during her recovery. And had a care package for help with washing etc for a few weeks. The hospital would not discharge her until these were in place. They had asked about provision of food etc. Which as a family we could obviously do as we were close by but she didn't want us to help with the more personal stuff ( understandable)

The occupational therapist was so nice when assessing my mum. Mum really underplayed her difficulties after the op such as getting up to walk to the bathroom etc and the OT was fully aware which is why she got some aids and the care package.

Thanks so much, that’s really helpful. Thanks for taking the time to reply.

I'm afraid I don't have any useful info to offer but just wanted to let you know I'm in a similar situation with my FIL.

He's 77 and had a smallish AAA that was due to be operated on via keyhole surgery (before lockdown). However, it grew during lockdown so he could no longer have the keyhole surgery.

He went in for the op on Thursday and they discovered 3 more aneurysms. So a 3-5 hour op became an almost 10 hour op!! He's still sedated in ITU.

As we live 2.5 hours away, we need to plan ahead for his discharge and recovery especially as MIL will not be able to help as she's got advanced cancer and is frail.

Wishing your mum a swift recovery.

It’s a very difficult surgery and recovery, please know not everyone survives.

The ops mother will be having an elective procedure. The outcomes are significantly better for a AAA repair that's done as a planned op than one needed because of a rupture as an emergency.

Op I would plan that she will need significant support for some time.

I have no experience of this surgery but do discuss with the consultant the impact of a GA on an older person.

Our experience was our family member was very disorientated and had GA induced dementia. So recovery for the original op was straightforwardish but they needed a lot of support and help to deal with the GA dementia.

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Yes, Mum is having elective open surgery because the aneurysm is not suitable for the EVAR procedure. The anaesthetist warned us that she might be confused after the anaesthetic, but he didn’t refer to it using the word “dementia” which is good as Mum is already anxious about this side effect. He was very clear that it is very major surgery though, he was quite graphic!

Fortunately they do lots of tests beforehand and the anaesthetist seemed to think that risk of death in her case during the op is around 2%. This is very much greater if it’s an emergency op, as I understand it, and she is fit for someone her age. But still there are risks.

TwoScottieDogs how are things with your FIL? I hope he’s doing ok. It must be a very stressful time for you and your family, I wish you well

Thanks for asking about my FIL. He's still sedated in ITU but his blood pressure and acid levels in his blood have come down. When they reduce sedation, he is responsive (ie. he could squeeze the nurses finger). They are hoping to take him off the ventilator tomorrow.

So he is making very slow progress but it's clearly a very serious operation. I hope your mum's op goes well.

Thank you. I hope his progress continues well.

It's a week since his op and finally he's off the ventilator and has even answered a few questions verbally. I feel like he's turned a corner and is on the start of the road to recovery (albeit slow).