"Triple A operation"

The aortic aneurysm was detected on a CT scan, previously as an "incidental", and therefore I feel extremely lucky it was discovered. Because of its position, close to the adrenal arteries, the use of stents was not appropriate and thus required 3 hour open surgery. The risks and after-effects were explained to me by my consultant prior to my admission. I am grateful to the anaesthetist who put be at my ease as I was being given my epidural. I can only admire the skill of the consultant and his team for what is a skilful, painstaking operation. Once I came round, after what seemed quite a short time, I was relieved to be still in control of my mental faculties. I was transferred to an HD unit. It was very noisy, with the chap in the bed next to me "completely out of it". Also we all had instruments attached which were bleeping at regular intervals. Unnecessary movement caused louder bleeps. As I was so drowsy, I couldn't really have cared less. The nursing care could not be faulted. The next day, I was transferred to the Denton ward. Again the nurses care was exemplary, showing great patience with some demanding patients. I have had quite a few operations, mainly minor, since I was a child and the care I received then was mixed to say the least. The last one prior to this operation was back in the mid eighties in the old N & N. On one occasion after I was released from hospital, I wrote to complain of the filthy state of the wards. This is no longer the case and I can only assume there has been a dramatic culture shift, for the better within the NHS, in all respects.