Even if you have lived with heart disease for many years, it can be scary when the day comes and your doctor tells you that you need a surgical procedure to correct the problem. Surgery can be a traumatic experience - not only for you but for your family as well. If you know what you can expect to go into cardiac surgery and what follows after, it can help put your mind at ease. Here are the steps you can take to feel ready for the upcoming heart surgery.
Meeting Your health care team
A cardiac surgery team member will meet with you and your family. Your surgeon will tell you about the type of treatment that is best for you. At the meeting, a team member will ask you some questions about your health in the past.
They will also ask you questions about the drugs you take. Here are some tips:
- Tell your team all the medicines, vitamins, herbal supplements, and other over-the-counter medications you are taking. Unless your doctor tells you not to, it's okay to take aspirin until the day of surgery. All other blood thinning medications should be stopped earlier.
- Talk with your surgeon about the best time for you to stop taking these drugs. It is very important to tell the team all allergic reactions you have ever had to medicine or anesthesia. This will help to give you safe and appropriate care during and after surgery.
Test Before surgery
You will have some tests before surgery. Tests may involve:
- urine and blood
- The chest radiograph
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Your surgeon may order other tests based on your health history.
breathing and coughing exercises
A respiratory therapist or nurse will teach you how to do breathing and coughing exercises. These exercises are important to help rid your lungs of mucus after surgery. Mucus making it easier for bacteria to grow. The exercises will help speed your recovery. You will learn how to use a spirometer or Acapella® tool and exercise to help you to cough and breathe deeply.
Quit Smoking
If you smoke, stop please. Smoking will make it much harder for your wounds to heal, increase your chances of infection, and slow down your recovery. Smoking also puts greater demands on your heart by increasing your heart rate and blood pressure. Choose a quit method that you stick with.
The Night Before Surgery
personal care to prepare for surgery
Here are some important things you should make sure you do before your surgery:
- You learn to use a special soap to take a shower in the evening before and the morning of your surgery
- Remove nail polish and makeup before coming. hospital.
- Avoid heavy meals or difficult exercise the day before surgery. Follow the dietary plan or activity that your doctor has advised.
- Women can bring a non-flexible wire bra for comfort after surgery and to help with recovery.
belongings
the day before or the morning of your surgery, ask your family to take your personal belongings at home. They can keep some personal items you need after your surgery (such as glasses or hearing aids). After surgery, the nurse of the intensive care unit (ICU) can obtain these items from your family in the waiting room.
After midnight
At home or in the hospital before your surgery, you should not eat or drink after midnight.
If you were told to do, you can take your medications with a sip of water the morning of your surgery.
day surgery
Your family
Your family can be with you before you go to the operating room. If you are in hospital, they should come to your room at least 2 hours before surgery. If you come for surgery the same day, you will be asked to arrive early in the morning with special instructions for you and your family.
Go to the operating room
Before surgery, you will be given the medicine into a vein (IV) to make you relaxed and comfortable. This medicine may make your mouth and dry throat.
Waiting Room
Your family will be displayed in a comfortable waiting area. Operation usually lasts between 4 and 6 hours. It is important that your surgeon be able to reach your family at any time during surgery. If your family leaves the waiting room, they should tell the person at the reception where they go and how long they will be gone. They should also leave a phone number where they can be reached
For more information on heart surgery at UPMC, visit our What to Expect: .. Heart Surgery booklet
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