Coming in to hospital
Typically you will be given one week notice before coming into hospital and you will be contacted by the cardiac theatre scheduler. At this time information will be given to you over the telephone regarding admission time and what drugs you have to stop, if any, pre operatively.You will report directly to ward 4b on admission and have surgery the next day.
Unfortunately, in common with all heart surgery units worldwide, there are occassions when a scheduled operation cannot proceed because of various reasons such as lack of intensive care bed or overrun of another operation. We recognise the distress this causes patients and, if it occurs, will do out utmost to reschedule your surgery as soon as possible.
On the day of surgery
On the day of the operation you will not be allowed to eat or drink. You will need to take a bath or shower in antibacterial soap and shampoo to reduce the risk of a wound infection post-operatively.
You will be given in injection and tablets, known as a pre-med, to help you relax. This may make you feel sleepy. You will then be taken to the theatre on a trolley.
Recovery
Following the operation you will be taken to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit where you will stay for at least one night.
On the first day after the operation you will be monitored carefully by the nursing staff. Machines will be attached to you to record your blood pressure, pulse and oxygen levels and you will have intravenous drips in your neck and arm. Occasionally, the surgeon feels you need to be taken back to the operating theatre if, for example, the blood loss in the surgical drains is too persistent. This is a routine aspect of modern cardiac surgery and you would probably not be aware of this if it happens as you would still be anaesthetised. Once happy with your progress, you will be gently awoken from anaesthetic, usually on the same night as surgery or by the following morning.
On the second day after the operation you may move into the high dependency ward. You will probably have some more checks – a chest x-ray and a blood tests – to make sure everything is progressing well. The nurses will help you get out of bed and physiotherapists will encourage you with deep breathing exercises. Over the next few days and until you leave hospital, you will be continually checked. Physiotherapists will help you increase your mobility and you should be able to eat and drink normally. Sometimes after the operation you may have strange dreams and occasionally hallucinations, but be reassured they will go away.