Within the Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, we believe it is very important for patients and their relatives to have a clear understanding as to why the operation is being carried out, what is involved, and what you, the patient, can expect during your stay. Any member of the nursing or medical team will be more than happy to answer your questions or deal with any issues that may be worrying you.
Below, we outline a typical process from Admission to Discharge.
Outpatients
Patients requiring cardiac surgery are usually referred to the department after being assessed by a Consultant Cardiologist, and undergoing an angiogram (a diagnostic procedure done with x-rays to visualise blood vessels following the introduction of a contrast material into an artery).
They are then seen in our Cardiac Outpatients Clinic (Link Corridor, Blocks B and C, Level 1, UHW) by a Consultant Cardiac Surgeon, who will discuss whether surgery is the best option.
Pre-Admission
Before being admitted for cardiac surgery, patients are assessed in our Cardiac Pre-admission Clinic, Ward C5 (UHW), by our Case Managers. They provide patients with further information, and complete the pre-operative investigations and examinations.
Ward Admission
Patients are usually admitted to the Cardiothoracic Ward, C Block, Level 5, the day before the planned surgery. The ward telephone number is 029 2074 5160, and visiting hours are 3.00pm to 7.00pm daily. Ward rounds take place twice daily, every morning and evening.
Theatres
The Operating Theatres are situated in C Block, Level 3, adjacent to our Adult Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit. The three operating theatres work from 08.00 hours to 18.00 hours, five days a week, with additional cases performed outside these hours on a 24 hour on-call system.
When the theatre staff are ready, patients are taken to the operating theatre on a trolley. A porter and a ward nurse accompany patients, and give them oxygen to breathe via a face-mask. Once in the Anaesthetic Room, the patients are given an injection of an anaesthetic drug that keeps them asleep for the whole operation. Patients are usually in the operating theatre for approximately 3 to 5 hours, though some patients stay longer depending on the type of operation they are having performed. Following the operation, patients are transferred to the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit.
Intensive Care
Following heart surgery, patients are transferred to our Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit for 24 to 48 hours.
Following heart surgery, patients are transferred to our Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit for 24 to 48 hours.
Ward Recovery
Patients are transferred to C5 from the Intensive Care Unit, where they stay until they are ready to be discharged home or transferred to a local hospital for convalescence.
Discharge
Patients normally stay in hospital for 7 to 10 days after surgery.
Who can you contact if you have queries or problems?
If you have any queries relating to:
- waiting for surgery
- the pre-admission clinic
- your subsequent admission to hospital for surgery,
you can telephone the Case Managers, who work with the Cardiac Surgeons, on 0290 2074 8093 / 2892.
If they are not available please leave a message on the answer phone and they will get back to you.
