Ward 5a
Before and after your surgery you will spend some time in Ward 5a at the Royal Victoria Hospital. This ward contains 38 beds for cardiothoracic surgery, 21 of which dedicated to cardiac surgery. You may come into this ward the night before your heart surgery, and then return during your recovery when the staff will continue to look after you, following your short stay in the cardiac surgery intensive care unit. Sometimes patients are brought in to hospital on the same day as their surgery via the Day of Surgery Admissions unit (DoSA).
Visiting times are 3 to 4 pm and 6 to 7:30 pm
Operating Theatres
We currently have 3 fully equipped, operating theatres for Cardiac Surgery. These theatres are currently located in the Victorian Wing of the Royal Victoria Hospital, close to the Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit.
Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit (CSICU)
CSICU is a dedicated 11 bedded unit currently located in the Victorian Wing of the Royal Victoria Hospital. Most Cardiac Surgery patients will spend a short time in CSICU after their surgery, before returning to the ward. During this time they will be cared for by nurses, doctors, physiotherapists and other team members. Nursing care is on a 1:1 basis while a patient is requiring ventilatory support and as the patient improves, decreases to 1:2 or 1:4 nurses per patient, depending on how well the patient is progressing.
We appreciate that the CSICU can appear a frightening place for visitors and patients alike, but our staff are always available to help and support you. In addition, we have created a newly refurbished relatives room as a relaxing and quiet place to retreat to while visiting your loved ones.
High dependency unit
Located beside CSICU, is the 8 bedded high dependency unit. This is for patients who no longer need help with their breathing via a ventilator but who are not quite ready to return to the ward.