Endarterectomy Discharge Information

What is endarterectomy?

Endarterectomy is surgery to remove plaque that is blocking blood flow in an artery. Plaque is a combination of cholesterol and other materials that build up on the inside of blood vessels and cause narrowing or blockages. Plaque can occur in any blood vessel in the body. When the plaque buildup is severe and it blocks blood from flowing through blood vessels, it can cause organ damage or other life threatening conditions. When this condition occurs in the main arteries in the neck that bring oxygen rich blood to the brain (called the carotid arteries), it can cause a stroke.

How can I take care of myself when I go home?

How long it takes to get better depends on how well you recover, your overall health, and any complications you may have.

Management

• Your provider will give you a list of your medicines when you leave the hospital.
  • Know your medicines. Know what they look like, how much you should take each time, how often you should take them, and why you take each one.
  • Take your medicines exactly as your provider tells you to.
  • Carry a list of your medicines in your wallet or purse. Include any nonprescription medicines and supplements on the list.
  • Talk to your provider before you use any other medicines, including nonprescription medicines.
• Ask your healthcare provider if you should take aspirin and if so, how much to take. Taking a low-dose aspirin every day may help prevent a heart attack or stroke. However, not everyone should take aspirin.
• Your provider may prescribe medicine to:
  • Treat pain
  • Treat or prevent an infection
  • Relax and widen blood vessels and allow blood to flow through them easier
  • Help prevent blood clots
  • Control cholesterol levels
• Your provider may recommend other types of therapy to help relieve pain, other symptoms, or side effects of treatment.
• To care for your surgical wound:
  • Keep your surgical wound clean.
  • If you are told to change the dressing on your surgical wound, wash your hands before changing the dressing and after disposing of the dressing.

Appointments

• Follow your provider's instructions for follow-up appointments.
• Keep appointments for any testing you may need.

Talk with your provider about any questions or concerns you have.

Diet, Exercise, and Other Lifestyle Changes

• Follow the treatment plan your healthcare provider prescribes.
• Get plenty of rest while you’re recovering. Try to get at least 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night.
• Drink enough fluids to keep your urine light yellow in color, unless you are told to limit fluids.
• Exercise as your provider recommends.
• Don't smoke. Smoking can worsen poor blood circulation.
• You will probably need to make changes in some of the foods you eat. Ask your provider about the benefits of talking to a dietician to learn what you need in a healthy diet.
• Ask your healthcare provider if there are any foods or medicines you should avoid.
• Lose weight if you need to and keep a healthy weight.
• Find ways to make your life less stressful.
• Follow activity restrictions, such as not driving or operating machinery, as recommended by your healthcare provider or pharmacist, especially if you are taking pain medicines or muscle relaxants.

Call emergency medical services or 911 if you have new or worsening:

• Chest pain or pressure, squeezing, or fullness in the center of your chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back (may feel like indigestion or heartburn)
• Pain or discomfort in one or both arms or shoulders, or in your back, neck, jaw, or stomach
• Trouble breathing
• Breaking out in a cold sweat for no known reason
• Along with the previous symptoms, feeling very tired, faint, or sick to your stomach
• Severe bleeding or bruising or bleeding that does not stop
• Bluish color and coldness in your affected arm or leg
• Weakness, numbness, tingling or pain in your face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of your body

Do not drive yourself if you have any of these symptoms.

Call your healthcare provider if you have new or worsening:

• Feeling like your heart is beating too fast, too slow, or skipping beats
• Signs of infection around your surgical wound. These include:
  • The area around your wound is more red or painful
  • Your wound area is very warm to touch
  • You have blood, pus, or other fluid coming from the wound area
  • You have a fever higher than 101.5° F (38.6° C)
  • You have chills or muscle aches
• Warmth, redness, or pain in your leg
• Unusual or more frequent bleeding or bruising

Ask your healthcare provider about any medicine, treatment, or information that you do not understand.