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Being admitted to hospital can be a confusing experience. Find out what to expect with this overview of a patient’s journey through the surgical process, from referral to discharge.
Sometimes a damaged limb cannot be saved. This may happen after a bypass attempt, or if the limb is too damaged to be repaired by a bypass.
While amputation is a straightforward surgery, recovery can be more complicated. Even a minor amputation such as a toe or part of a foot can affect your ability to walk. Amputations that remove more of the leg, such as a below-knee amputation, need a lot of rehabilitation to restore your ability to move. How much mobility you have after surgery will partly depend on what you could do before you got sick.
Our surgeons will try to remove the least amount of leg or foot possible. How long you will stay in hospital after your surgery will depend on how much is amputated and how well you recover.
Learn more about amputation.
An angioplasty opens arteries that have become either fully or partially blocked. A tiny balloon is inserted through a puncture site, usually in the groin area. This balloon is moved to the spot in the artery where there is a blockage. The balloon is then inflated and opens up the artery.
An angioplasty is usually a day procedure. Most patients will go home the same day.
Learn more about angioplasty.
This surgery bypasses blockages in the iliac arteries. The iliac arteries are the blood vessels that the aorta divides into on the way to the legs. These become the femoral arteries in the legs.
An aorto bifemoral bypass surgery links the aorta with the femoral arteries, allowing blood to continue through to the legs. This usually needs an abdominal incision and an incision on each side of the groin.
The average length of hospital stay for this surgery is seven days. Every patient will recover differently, and their length of stay may be different.
Learn more about aorto bifemoral bypass.
This surgery clears blockages in the carotid artery and restores blood flow to the brain. Your surgeon will make an incision along the affected artery and remove the blockage.
The average hospital stay after a carotid endarterectomy is three days, depending on how successful the procedure is and how well you recover.
Learn more about carotid endarterectomy.
During this procedure, our vascular surgeons clear a blockage from the arteries of a limb with ischemia. The surgeon makes a small incision near the site of the blockage. If successful, you may not need to stay very long in the hospital and may be able to go home the next day.
Learn more about embolectomy.
This surgery is less invasive than an open abdominal repair. Instead of opening the abdomen to access the aorta directly, the surgeon will make an incision in each side of the groin. Through these incisions, the surgeon accesses the aorta through the femoral arteries and moves a graft or patch into the affected area.
The average hospital stay after this surgery is three days. Not all patients will meet the criteria for this procedure.
Learn more about endovascular aortic aneurysm repair.
When there is a blockage in a limb, our vascular surgeons will bypass the blockage and restore blood flow to the rest of the limb. Your surgeon will usually make an incision to access to the main artery in the affected leg (the femoral artery).
The vascular surgeon will attach a graft to the upper part of the femoral artery to bypass the blocked area and then reattach the graft to either the femoral or tibial artery (the main lower-leg artery) to restore blood flow to the lower leg.
The length of hospital stay for this procedure varies from five to ten days, depending on the nature of the surgery and your individual recovery.
Learn more about femoral-femoral or femoral-tibial bypass surgery.
During this surgery the surgeon repairs an aortic aneurysm by opening the patient’s abdomen and inserting a graft. This is a major surgery and will require a hospital stay of around seven days, but every patient is different and the length of stay will vary.
Learn more about open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.
If your family doctor thinks you may need a surgery, they will refer you to one of our surgeons.
Your surgeon will talk to you about your condition and treatment options. They may also order tests to better understand your concern or decide you don’t need surgery at the time.
If surgery is the best option, your surgeon will make an appointment at the Pre-Admission Clinic (PAC) at the Grey Nuns Community Hospital for you.
Your PAC appointment is usually two weeks before your surgery. Depending on the surgeon’s schedule and your condition, the appointment may be closer to your surgery date.
During your appointment the medical team will:
On the day of your surgery, go to the extended day unit (Unit 23). Our team will prepare you for surgery and guide you to the operating room holding area.
After your surgery, you will spend time in the recovery room. The nurses will help you recover from the anesthesia and keep you comfortable. Most patients spend one hour in the recovery room.
After the recovery room, you will be moved to one of the post-operative units:
Both units are on the fourth floor of the Grey Nuns hospital and specialize in vascular surgery. The intensive care unit is only for patients who need specialized, one-on-one care.
Depending on the type of amputation, there will usually be a single incision. It will need a dressing for the first few days.
Around 24 hours after surgery, nursing and rehab staff will help you start moving around.
The Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital has an amputee program. Patients need to meet certain criteria to access the program. Ask your physician or care team for more information.
After the recovery room, you will be moved to the day surgery unit. Our nursing team will monitor and assess you closely.
Most patients will stay in bed for four hours and go home later that day unless your surgeon needs you to stay overnight.
After your surgery, you will stay in Unit 41 for monitoring. If there are no complications overnight, most patients go home the next morning.
Your surgeon may wish to see you two or three weeks after your surgery. Your care team will let you know before you go home.
Most patients will spend one or two days in the intermediate care unit where they are monitored closely. You will be attached to a monitor so your care team can watch your heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen saturation closely. You will also have a tube (catheter) inserted into your bladder, so you do not need to get up to urinate. You will have at least one IV inserted into your arm to restore the fluid you may have lost during the surgery.
The type of bypass determines the length and location of your incision. It will usually be on the affected leg and can run the entire length of the leg. The dressing will be changed after 24 hours and changed daily after that. You will need a dressing for as long as your incision is draining fluid. This is normal for a few days after surgery and may continue for longer with some patients.
You will have an incision on the side of your neck where the affected artery is. This dressing will be removed 24 hours after surgery. Your incision will have steri-strips or sterile tape across the incision.
You will have two incisions on each side of your groin area. There will be dressings on each site that will be changed after 24 hours. After that, the dressings will be changed once a day until they stop draining.
The type of bypass determines the length and location of your incision. It will usually be on the affected leg, and can run the entire length of your leg. The dressing will be changed after 24 hours, and changed daily after that. You will need a dressing for as long as your incision is draining fluid. This is normal for a few days after surgery and it may continue for longer with some patients.
You will have a long incision running down your abdomen. For the first few days there will a dressing to protect the incision. This will be changed daily.
After one or two days you will move to Unit 41. Here the focus will be on getting you home.
Your stay could range from three to seven days depending on the type of bypass and incisions.
The average stay for a carotid endartectomy is three days. Everyone is different and recovers differently, so your length of stay may vary.
The average stay after this type of surgery is three days. Everyone recovers differently, and your stay may be longer.
An average hospital stay for this surgery is seven days. However, everyone recovers differently and your stay may be longer.
When it is time for you to go home, your care team will give you information about recovery and follow-up based on your needs.
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The aorta is the main blood vessel that pumps blood away from the heart. It travels down the body until dividing just above the groin area into two major arteries called the iliac arteries. These become the femoral arteries as they continue into the legs.
An aortic aneurysm occurs when the aorta’s walls weaken and the vessel balloons out. This often occurs just above where the aorta divides into the iliac arteries. If the aneurysm expands too much, this ‘balloon’ can rupture, causing the belly to fill with blood—a life-threatening event.
The walls of the aorta can weaken for many reasons, but high blood pressure and smoking are two major factors that cause aneurysms. It’s possible for an aneurysm to form and stay intact for a long period of time. The bigger the aneurysm is, the greater the risk it poses to the patient.
Learn more about abdominal aortic aneurysm
The two carotid arteries, running up each side of the neck, carry blood to the brain. Carotid stenosis happens when blood flow through these vessels is partially blocked. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking are all possible causes.
A partially-blocked carotid can be very risky. There is an increased chance that a person with this condition will have a stroke due to reduced blood flow to the brain, or because part of the blockage in the artery comes loose and ends up in the brain.
Learn more about carotid stenosis
Limb ischemia means there is a lack of blood flow to a limb, often a leg. This can be the result of peripheral arterial disease, which occurs when there is a blockage in the arteries leading to or in the affected limb. Blockages can occur for many reasons, but smoking and poorly controlled diabetes are major factors. When a limb’s blood flow is blocked or reduced, there will be increased pain and reduced movement. The affected limb may also become pale and cold. Sores may develop and will not heal. If left untreated, the limb will gradually die and become a major risk for infection to the rest of the body while impacting the patient’s mobility.
Learn more about limb ischemia
This condition is also known as peripheral vascular disease (PAD).
PAD occurs when blood flow to peripheral body parts is restricted by a narrowing or blockage of the arteries. This can affect the arms, but circulation issues most often occur in the legs. This can cause pain and the limb may feel cold and look pale. The condition can also cause loss of limb function, and wounds on the affected limb may not heal. Several vascular procedures such as bypasses or medications can address this issue. In cases where the condition has progressed, an amputation may be required. Peripheral vascular disease is often the root of vascular conditions such as limb ischemia.
Learn more about peripheral arterial disease
Renal insufficiency means the kidneys are not working properly. The kidneys’ major function is to remove waste and unnecessary elements from the blood. This waste is then eliminated in urine.
When the kidneys do not function properly, the blood is not being cleaned. This can cause a build up of unwanted electrolytes, such as potassium and sodium, in the blood. These electrolytes play an important role in the body, and it’s important to keep them at the right levels. People with poorly functioning kidneys may experience high blood pressure and heart issues among other concerns.
Learn more about renal insufficiency
This syndrome occurs when the blood vessels and nerves that run in front of the shoulder between the muscles, collar bone and first rib are pinched. People suffering from this may feel pain, weakness, numbness and swelling in the affected arm. The arm, and especially the hand, may feel cold and appear blue. Physiotherapy may treat this condition.
Learn more about thoracic outlet syndrome
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Still have questions? Please contact us at the Northern Alberta Vascular Centre.
