Your journey to heart surgery

1. Your journey to heart surgery A brief guide

2. Check lists • Prior to surgery the doctors and nurses need to complete some tests. • These include swabs from your nose and throat, a urine sample, blood tests, and ECG and breathing tests

3. Transfer to the Royal Victoria Hospital • You will be transferred to ward 5A in the RVH one or two days before your date of surgery • Further blood tests may be taken • The anaesthetist and surgeon/ or surgical registrar will visit before surgery and a consent form will be signed

4. The day before surgery your skin will be shaved – this can include the chest, back and both legs • Your family will need to take home all belongings except one pair of pyjamas, a towel and soap bag

5. The night before surgery a strong sleeping tablet will be given to help you relax and sleep • On the morning of surgery you will be given a strong sedative once you are in your gown and ready for theatre

6. GOING TO THEATRE • The nurse will take you from the ward to the theatre in your bed. • The theatre nurse will accompany you into the anaesthetic room where some intravenous lines will be inserted • An oxygen mask will be in place and you will soon drift off to sleep

7. After the surgery • You will be taken from theatre into the cardiac surgery intensive care – CSICU • Where one nurse will care for you to ensure you have lots of painkillers so you won’t be in any pain • The doctor will phone your family to tell them that the surgery is completed

8. CSICU • Family are asked not to phone the CSICU for at least two hours to give staff time to make you comfortable • You could be asleep for up to 24 hours and on a ventilator so family are not encouraged to visit on the day of surgery • If close family decide to visit they will not be turned away

9. The nurses and doctors will waken you up when they feel you are ready • When you waken you will be attached to a heart monitor and some drips • There will also be a catheter and possibly some drains in your chest near your chest wound. • You may also have one or two leg wounds • Strong painkillers will be given to ensure you are comfortable

10. The nurses and physio will encourage you to cough – a pillow or towel across the chest will make this more comfortable • You will be using your spirometer regularly • Moving your legs frequently and breathing deeply will prevent complications such as a chest infection or clot in the leg • When you are feeling better you will be moved to the High Dependency Unit where visiting is afternoon and evening

11. Two or three days after your surgery you will be transferred back to ward 5A to a six bedded bay • When you become more independent, if available, you will be moved into a side ward • Chest and leg wounds will be redressed by the nurses • Discharge home is usually 7-10 days after surgery

12. 5 A 3 pm – 5 pm, 6 pm - 8 30pm • Cardiac ICU 2 30pm - 7 30pm • Phone 9063 3500       

13. Map of hospital

14. Parking • If arriving by car please use the visitors car park. There is a small charge for this which you will need to pay at the kiosk or pay machines BEFORE you return to your car. • Allow yourself plenty of time (about 30 minutes) to park and to get to your appointment or ward. • Disabled Parking Spaces • The main visitors car park has provision for 23 disabled car parking bays, of which 17 are located on the ground floor and additional spaces on the upper level. The Children’s hospital has a further 5 disabled spaces in the visitors car park.  • When entering the main visitors car park the spaces are located in the corner to the far right as you go underneath the top deck of the park.  Adjacent to  these bays there is a tunnel that accesses the main hospital.   There is a lift that takes patients up to the main entrance.   • Also located at the disabled parking bays is  “Shop mobility” who will assist disabled drivers  if required.  • Spaces are reserved for disabled drivers in all Belfast Trust Car Parks. Every effort is made to find disabled drivers’ alternative parking when all of these spaces are already occupied. • Patient and visitor parking areas are clearly posted throughout the site and disabled car parking spaces located in close proximity to hospital departmental entrances. • Where designated disabled bays are full, the general public/visitor parking spaces may be used.   Any vehicle parked in a designated disabled space at any time without displaying a valid disabled blue badge is subject to wheel clamping.

15. Where can I get something to eat? • Patients and visitors may use the two main restaurants on the Royal site. • • The restaurant and coffee area in the new RVH is situated on level 2 just above the main reception desk and is open 24 hours a day. • • Bostock Restaurant, situated close to the Children's hospital is open Monday to Friday 8.30am - 2.15pm. • • A snack bar is also available from 8.30am - 4.00pm at the Accident and Emergency department. • There are plans to open a large shop on the ground floor of the new hospital in the meantime, a newspaper and sweet shop on the main corridor of the old RVH is open each day from 7.30am - 8.00pm, with a trolley service visiting wards.