Heart Conditions
Pectus Repair

Coming In To Hospital For a Pectus Repair
OK, so you're coming in to hospital for surgery. Here's a few things you may want to know.

As you are staying in hospital, the nurses will have to "admit" you. This is where a couple of forms have to be filled in, just asking about yourself, nothing too taxing!

Observations
Your blood pressure, pulse, respiration rate and temperature will be recorded. Also your height and weight.

Chest X-Ray
Usually done in the x-ray department, to provide information about the size of your heart and the blood flow through the lungs.

Blood Tests
OK, no one likes blood tests, but they are sometimes necessary. If you want, your nurse can put on some local anaesthetic cream to stop it hurting.

Fasting
You will be having a general anaesthetic so you will be "fasted" four hours before you go. That means nothing to eat or drink.

Premed
Medication is prescribed by the anaesthetist about an hour before you go, this relax or even sedate you before you go.

Transfer to theatre
Someone from theatre will come with a trolley to take you. Your nurse will come with you and stay with you until you are asleep. Most of our anaesthetists allow parents to stay with you until you are asleep.

After your operation is completed you will usually be taken to the recovery unit until you are fully awake after which you will be transferred up to ward 10, high dependency unit. The unit is full of medical equipment and can appear a little overwhelming, but it is all essential to assist the nursing and medical staff to monitor your condition. Initially you will have one nurse to after you.That nurse is responsible for monitoring your condition. Also involved will be teams of surgical and medical personnel.

Oxygen
You will have oxygen from a facemask for about the 1st day. The nurses will determine when this will be discontinued.

Chest drains
All patients have drains in place following surgery to drain excess fluid away from the chest. These can remain in place for up one week

Once you start to improve, the tubes and drains will be removed gradually as they are no longer needed. The length of time you spend in the high dependency unit is individual for each person, and dependent on your progress. As soon as you are able you will be able to move out into a ward cubicle

Wound Dressings
A dressing called a pressure dressing is applied to your repair site. This remains in place for a minimum of 2 days. The surgeons then decide when it can then be removed.

Stitches
They usually are removed from between 7- 10 days after your surgery.

Moving around
Immediately after your surgery you will have to either lie flat on the bed or with your head slightly raised. Lucky we have these wonderful beds. How much mobilising you are allowed to do is determined by the surgeon, as each person can vary.

Pain
These type of operations are painful, so the medical staff and nurses go to great lengths to manage your pain control well. your pain is managed in a combination of ways. [1]You will be able to control your own painkillers with the use of a special device called a PCAS.[2] you will be given additional pain killers that you can swallow.

Other Drugs
You will also be on antibiotics until your drains are removed.

Physiotherapy
Another important member of the team is the physiotherapist. Their role is to ensure that your lungs recover after the surgery, and to get you moving about properly.

Families
Your brothers and sisters are welcome to visit. There is open visiting on Ward 10.
Home. you should be able to go home within 7 -10 days

Outpatients
Your consultant will usually see you in his clinic in 4- 6 weeks after your discharge home.

Discharge advice
I know that this will be hard, but to enable your wound to heal well there are a few no nos..No heavy lifting for 3 months. No contact sports for 12 months. No swimming for 6 weeks. Keep your wound clean and dry. Continue to take painkillers until you become pain free. And Lastly you can go back to school/work when you feel able to, it is usually after 4 weeks.

Updated Sep05