Preparing for a coronary artery bypass graft
It's a good idea to be well prepared before going into hospital to have a coronary arterybypass graft (CABG). You may find the advice below useful: Get informed find out as much as you can about what your operation involves. Your hospital may provide written information. Arrange help ask a friend or relative to help you at home for a week or two after coming home from hospital. Sort out transport arrange for a friend, relative or a taxi to take you to and from the hospital. Prepare your home before going for your operation, put your TV remote control, radio, telephone, medications, tissues, address book and glasses on a table next to where you'll spend most of your time when you come out of hospital. Stock up stock up on food that's easy to prepare, such as frozen ready meals, cans, and staples like rice and pasta, or prepare your own dishes to freeze and reheat during your recovery. Clean up before going into hospital, have a long bath or shower, cut your nails (don't forget to take off any nail polish) and wash your hair. Wear freshly washed clothes to help prevent taking unwanted bacteria into hospital, which can increase your risk of developing complications. Pre-admission assessment Before surgery, you'll attend a pre-admission clinic, where you'll be seen by a member of the team who will be looking after you in hospital. At this clinic, you'll have a physical examination and be asked for details of your medical history. You may also have some tests such as a chest X-ray , blood tests and an electrocardiogram (ECG) . During an ECG, small electrodes are put on your arms, legs and chest to record the electrical signals produced by your heart. You'll usually be told more about the operation during your visit to the pre-admission clinic. This is a good time to ask any questions you have about the procedure, although you can discuss concerns at any time. While at the pre-admission clinic, you'll also be asked: whether you're taking any tablets or other types of medication it helps if you bring details with you of anything you're taking (perhaps bring the packaging with you) about previous anaesthetics you've had, and whether you had any problems with these, such as feeling sick whether you're allergic to anything You'll be advised to stop smoking if you smoke. This is because smoking increases your chances of developing a serious chest infection and slows down the time your wounds will take to heal. Smoking can also increase your risk of getting blood clots . What should I take into hospital? When getting ready for your stay in hospital,you may wish to pack: a change of nightclothes and a dressing gown some comfortable shoes or slippers (preferably a pair that are easily adjustable, as your feet may swelltemporarily after the operation) something comfortable and easy to wear during the day toiletries medication that you normally take books, magazines, crosswords and other things to help pass the time during your recovery healthy snacks for between meals your address book and important phone numbers Different hospitals tend to have different rules about personal electronic equipment. You may want to check with your hospital about their policy on the use of mobile phones, MP3 players, laptops and tablets during your hospital stay. You'll have a bedside locker for your personal belongings, but it's a good idea to avoid taking any unnecessary valuables into hospital. and going into hospital .
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Articles for heart bypass
A coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is a surgical procedure used to treat coronary heart disease.
It diverts blood around narrowed or clogged parts of the major arteries to improve blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart.
It's a good idea to be well prepared before going into hospital to have a coronary arterybypass graft (CABG).
You may find the advice below useful: get informed find out as much as you can about what your operation involves, arrange help to help you at home after coming home from hospital, sort out transport to take you home, etc.
Coronary artery bypass graft surgery usually lasts three to six hours. However, it may take longer depending on how many blood vessels are being grafted.
Blood vessels can be taken from your leg (saphenous vein), inside your chest (internal mammary artery) or your arm (radial artery).
You'll usually need to stay in hospital for around seven days after having a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), so medical staff can closely monitor your recovery.
During this time, you may be attached to various tubes, drips and drains that provide you with fluids and allow blood and urine to drain away.
As with all types of surgery, a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) carries risks of complications.
Some of the main complications associated with acoronary artery bypass graft are irregular heartbeat, infection, reduced kidney function, brain problems and heart attacks.
A coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) isn't a cure for heart disease, so it's important to adopt a healthy lifestyle and continue taking any prescribed medication after the operation to reduce your risk of getting heart problems in the future.
If you have coronary heart disease and the arteries around your heart are severely narrowed, it may be possible to have a procedure called a coronary angioplasty instead of a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).
Chauffeur Alec Keep, aged 66 when interviewed, had a heart bypass in March 2007 in Papworth Hospital, after he had two heart attacks.
After you've been discharged from hospital, you may experience some side effects as a result of the operation. These can include: loss of appetite, Constipation, back pain,
tiredness and difficulty sleeping, feeling upset or having mood swings