Before the operation
At the preoperative consultation with the surgeon, a target week will be arranged with you before surgery. About two weeks before the procedure, you will be contacted by our department with the final surgery date and time of admission.
The time of surgery may change because of any emergency surgeries that unexpectedly intervene on the schedule.
This depends on the agreed time of admission.
If you are admitted in the evening at 6pm, the operation will take place the following day. So you do not need to be sober when registering at the hospital and can still have a meal at home.
If you are admitted at 8 in the morning, the operation will take place the same day and you do need to be sober on admission. Specifically, this means that you should not eat or drink anything from midnight.
If possible, you can already depilate the chest, legs and groin using a trimmer. Shaving with a razor or depilatory cream is not allowed. You will receive this explanation during the preoperative nursing consultation on ward B6.
If you were examined at a hospital other than Virga Jessa Hospital, it is helpful to bring all available results of relevant examinations to the consultation.
Bring a list of your current medication, which you will receive at the preoperative nursing consultation.
You can already think about whether support and/or care is needed after your surgery, so that you can take all necessary steps in advance. You can also discuss this at the preoperative nursing consultation.
We go over your medication during the preoperative consultation in the B6 department. One will print a list for you here with all the necessary explanations regarding stopping certain medication.
Normally, you may continue to take only Asaflow® and Cardioasperine® until the day before surgery.
All other blood thinners such as Clopidogrel®, Plavix®, Marcoumar®, Sintrom® , all NOACs such as Eliquis®ֽ, Brilique®, Lixiana®, Xarelto®, should be stopped 5 days before surgery.
If any changes in medication happen between the time of the consultation and the operation itself, you should let us know. It is best to mention this immediately when you are called by someone from our service to give the final surgery date.
You should provide comfortable clothing for about five days, toiletries, footwear, home medication for 1 day, reading material, … Valuables are best left at home or given back to the family. If necessary, lockable lockers are also provided in the ward for any mobile phones, tablets, laptops,…
We advise you to unpack as little as possible on the ward before the operation. Sometimes, however, we may need to clear your room for another patient. Of course, your belongings will then be kept safely in a locker until after the procedure.
Your family may accompany you to the ward (B6) on admission. They may be present in the room until the end of the visiting hour (8pm).
Unfortunately, this is not possible, even in a single room.
If the distance from home to the hospital is too far, your family can stay in a nearby hotel during your admission. If you would like more information on this, please do not hesitate to contact us.
During the operation
Depending on the type of surgery and materials needed, the surgery schedule is drawn up. You will be notified of the preset time the day before. Please note that this is a guideline hour and always subject to unexpected changes. You should note that due to urgent interventions, changes can always occur.
The surgery is done under full anesthesia. The anesthesiologist will discuss the anesthesia with you the day before your surgery. You can then add any comments. You will usually wake up in the intensive care unit a few hours after the procedure.
After the procedure, the cardiac surgeon will call one contact to discuss the course of the operation. Afterwards, the family can visit the patient at the intensive care unit. Both the Intensive Care Unit and the Cardiothoracic Surgery Unit are available by phone day and night for enquiries.
After the operation
In the intensive care unit, visiting hours are from 2.30pm to 3.15pm and from 7pm to 7.45pm.
On ward B6, visiting hours are from 4pm to 8pm with a maximum of 4 visitors per day.
Ventilation is stopped as soon as you wake up (normally a few hours after the procedure). The tube in your throat will also be removed. You usually do not notice this. It is generally not perceived as disturbing.
If you are sufficiently awake and fit after anaesthesia, you can start drinking and light feeding again. Often, normal nutrition can be switched to the first day after surgery.
Once your condition is sufficiently stabilised, you can get out of bed. This is often the day after surgery. You will then be supported by the nurses and a physiotherapist.
Physiotherapy is usually started the day after surgery if your condition allows. This includes walking, cycling or doing stairs. The goal is to be able to resume normal life as soon as possible.
Discharge varies depending on the type of surgery you have had. When the checkup tests (blood tests, lung x-ray, heart ultrasound and cardiogram) are favorable and you are feeling well, discharge can be discussed. On average, this is 3-5 days after surgery.
The ward doctor is present daily between 09h00 and 16h00. Within this time range, they can therefore be reached for telephone consultations or an interview in the B6 department.
After discharge
– Fatigue,
– Shortness of breath mainly after exertion,
– Reduced appetite, disturbance of taste and smell and
– Sensitivity/deafness of the wounds.
The symptoms usually subside after a few weeks to a few months.
Showering can be done as early as the day to a few days after the procedure if your condition allows. While showering, avoid a direct jet on the wound and do not shower longer than necessary. It is important that you dry the wounds thoroughly. A bath should be avoided until all sutures are removed and the wounds have healed properly.
After a cardiac intervention you may legally not drive a car for one month. This is for insurance reasons. During the postoperative check-up with your cardiologist about four weeks after the procedure, the doctor will give guidelines on driving a vehicle.
Once home, you may resume your daily activity. There are no restrictions, but strenuous efforts are best avoided for the first few weeks. Walking and cycling are recommended for quick recovery.
Do take care when lifting heavy objects.
As soon as you feel sufficiently recovered.
14 days after surgery, the stitches may be removed by the family doctor or home nurse. The wounds may remain open until then. If they are nice and dry, they do not need to be covered by a bandage.
Fluid loss is quite normal the first 3 to 5 days after surgery.