ABSTRACT
Vascular disease is common, frequently needing medical or surgical interventions, only a few of which usually necessitate intensive care unit admission: aneurysm repair, and carotid artery repair. Immediate treatment of aneurysms usually includes antihypertensives, such as beta-blockers, but earlier drug interventions may prevent or limit atherosclerosis. About one tenth of people aged over 80 have carotid artery stenosis. Vascular surgery may cause bleeding from surrounding tissue, so drains should be clearly labelled or numbered, volume marked or measured on arrival, and drainage initially monitored hourly. Anticoagulant therapy is usually omitted post-operatively, and thromboembolism deterrent stockings are usually not used. Most vascular surgery does not necessitate intensive care unit admission, unless patients develop complications or other problems or have open aneurysm repair. The ascending aorta stretches from the aortic valve to the carotid arteries and is especially susceptible to aneurysm in people with Marfan's syndrome and other connective tissue disease.
