A patient with a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm needs to have major surgery.The nurse explains to the family that major surgery:

A) is an excision or removal of a diseased body part.
B) involves extensive surgery to reconstruct body parts.
C) is not necessary but may prevent additional problems.
D) is a surgical exploration that allows the physician or health care provider to confirm a diagnosis.

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm

A dangerous condition characterized by the abnormal enlargement of the lower part of the aorta, the major blood vessel supplying blood to the body, as it passes through the abdomen.

Major Surgery

A type of surgery that involves significant risk to the patient, a long recovery period, or large incisions and alterations to the body.

Surgical Exploration

A medical procedure that involves opening up a part of the body to investigate and potentially treat conditions that are not clearly diagnosed through less invasive measures.