After a crash injures your aorta, the checkups last a lifetime
A vascular surgeon explains the repair and the lifelong checks that follow
Your aorta is the body’s main blood vessel. It carries blood out from the heart. A hard crash can tear its wall. [1]
Many people who survive this injury get a stent graft, which doctors thread into place through an artery in the groin. Others need open surgery or close watching. A vascular surgeon decides how to protect the repair and checks on it over time. You still need those checks when you feel fine. [1]
Learn the details of your repair
Ask where the aorta was hurt and whether you have a stent graft. Find out if any nearby blood vessels were affected. Keep a copy of your operation report or implant card. Ask about your blood pressure target, how to check it at home and which medicines to keep taking. Do not change a prescribed blood pressure medicine or blood thinner on your own. [1, 2]
Plan your scans ahead of time
A graft needs scans on a set schedule. The scans confirm the graft is still in place. They also show whether the aorta is holding steady. The kind of scan and its timing depend on your injury and your repair. [1, 2]
Ask who orders each scan and who explains the results. Find out what happens if you move to a new area. Before any future procedure, tell your doctors you had an aortic injury. [1, 2]
Treat these signs as an emergency
Get emergency care for sudden, severe pain in your chest, back or belly. Fainting and new trouble breathing need emergency care too. So does a leg that suddenly turns cold, pale or painful. These symptoms can have several causes. Because of your past aortic injury, they must be checked quickly. If an incision turns red or starts to drain, tell your surgical team. [1, 2]
Questions to ask your vascular surgeon
- Where was the injury, and what kind of repair do I have?
- What are my instructions for blood pressure and medicines?
- When is my next scan, and who will go over it?
Keep your repair details close at hand
Sources and further reading
- 1Society for Vascular Surgery thoracic endovascular aortic repair
- 2Cambridge University Hospitals thoracic aortic stent graft aftercare
This is general education from a vascular surgery viewpoint. Each aortic injury and repair is different. Stick to the blood pressure, medicine, activity and scan plan your own team gave you.
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