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Frequently Asked Questions
You may have many questions about your surgery. We hope that the answers below help address some of them. At any time, we encourage you to speak with your doctor and others on your cardiac surgery team who are committed to providing you with high quality care.
BEFORE YOUR SURGERY
Do I need to have my consultation, pre-op and post-op appointments in Oakland or can I have them at the facility closest to me?
You will need to have your consultation, pre-op and post-op visits at the Kaiser Permanente Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic at the Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Oakland. Kaiser Permanente has carefully selected the Alta Bates Summit Medical Center to be one of our hubs dedicated to cardiac surgery. Your Kaiser Permanente surgery team at the Alta Bates Summit Medical Center will have consulted with your local cardiologist and will have your full medical history. You may have to travel farther to get to us in Oakland, but you will receive care from Kaiser Permanente medical professionals with specialized cardiac surgical skills, who perform a high volume of procedures. Given the number of procedures our physicians perform at the Alta Bates Summit Medical Center, you can feel confident in the experience and expertise of our practitioners.
What can I expect during the consultation and/or pre-op visit?
Depending upon your situation, you may have a consultation with your surgeon, or you may go directly to a pre-operative appointment. In an emergency, you may go directly to surgery. During a consultation, you and your surgeon will discuss your specific condition, including the risks and benefits of surgery. Your surgeon will walk you through the process, discussing your options and what you can expect. Together, you will decide if surgery is right for you. We encourage you to bring a close family member to the consultation visit, along with a list of your questions and concerns. During the pre-operative visit, you can expect to have blood drawn and may also receive other tests necessary to help your doctors treat your specific case. If surgery is right for you, you will be scheduled for surgery at a time agreed upon by you and your doctor.
Where do I have my tests done?
Your tests, such as a urine analysis, blood tests, and a chest x-ray, will be done at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Oakland. The Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Oakland is short distance from the Kaiser Permanente Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic at the Alta Bates Summit Medical Center.
When will I meet my surgeon?
In most cases, you will meet your surgeon at the consultation visit. To find your physician’s home page click here.
When will I meet my anesthesiologist?
You will meet your anesthesiologist on the morning of your scheduled surgery. If you have any particular concerns about anesthesia, please discuss this with your surgeon or the anesthesiologist prior to your surgery.
Where should my family stay if I have to travel?
Some families like to stay near the hospital. We have prepared a list of local accomodations. Click here to find out more: Accomodations. If you have not already received a copy, please request one from the staff at your cardiologist’s or surgeon’s office.
Should I arrange for someone to drive me?
Before surgery, you may usually drive yourself. After surgery, you will need to have someone pick you up at the time of discharge from the hospital.
What about my medications? When do I stop/start taking certain medications (such as plavix, coumadin, or ticlid) and aspirin or other over-the-counter (OTC) medications before/after the surgery?
In general, medications such as aspirin, plavix, coumadin, and ticlid should be stopped 5 to 7 days before elective surgery. However, you should get specific advice about managing all of your medications at the time of your pre-op visit or by calling the Kaiser Permanente Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic at 510-869-8248. At your post-op visit, the physician discharging you from the hospital will review your medications, and adjustments may be made at that time.
What if I am scared?
It is natural to feel anxious about your heart operation. The Kaiser Permanente team can help ease your fears and answer your questions. Cardiac surgery is, of course, a serious matter, and close family members may also be under stress. Don’t hesitate to ask your personal network of friends, extended family, spiritual advisers and others for additional help and support during this difficult time.
DURING YOUR HOSPITAL STAY
What can I expect?
You can expect that your first day after surgery will be spent in the critical care area (either in the Cardiopulmonary Unit (CPU) or the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)). Once you no longer require critical care, you will be transferred to a nursing unit (Transitional Care) that specializes in caring for post-cardiovascular surgery patients. Your heart will be monitored continuously until your discharge. Your prime responsibility during this time is to walk and move as much as you can. Often times, the more you walk the sooner you will get better. Post-operative pain at the surgical sites is normal and you will be given medications to control this as soon as your surgery is completed. This will continue through discharge depending on your needs. Before you leave the hospital, you will receive information about your recovery at home. For more information, click here: Conditions and Procedures
How many days will I be in the hospital and how long will I be in the critical care area (CPU or ICU)?
The average length of stay for this type of surgery is 5 to 7 days. The average length of stay in the critical care area is 1 day. Your stay in critical care, and then in Transitional Care until your discharge, will vary according to your needs.
What are the additional risks for the elderly? How well do the elderly recover?
Many of our surgical candidates are elderly and our team is very used to tailoring care to meet special needs. Elderly individuals often recover well without any problems. Sometimes, full recovery may take a little longer and may require additional care, such as Physical Therapy or Skilled Nursing assistance. Our team takes advantage of the full range of resources of Kaiser Permanente to help you with a smooth recovery.
WHEN YOU RETURN HOME
What information will I be given at discharge?
You will be given phone numbers to call if you have a problem or a question. You will also receive information about what you can expect, warning signs, and when you should call for advice. For more information, click here: Recovery at Home
What if there is a complication after my surgery? Can I go to the facility closest to me, or do I have to go to the Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in San Francisco?
If it is a normal workday, call the Cardiovascular Surgery Clinic first at 510-869-8248. They will ask you a series of questions about your complication and determine the best place for you to be. If it is after hours or on a weekend/holiday, call or go to your home facility. For any emergency or life threatening situation, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital.*
Will I be able to get in touch with my surgeon directly?
Yes, you can, but your surgeon spends many hours in the Operating Room. Because of this, we will give you phone numbers for the nursing staff. They will be your primary contact and can answer most questions. However, the nursing staff will consult your surgeon for any question or issue they cannot address.
When can I:
Expect my sleeping and/or eating patterns to return to normal?
Typically, around 6-12 weeks. Anesthesia can affect how food tastes for several weeks and you may find simple, cold foods more appealing than pungent, warm dishes.
Get the incision wet? When can I shower? When can I bathe?
The incision can get wet once you are back home. Feel free to shower immediately, but do not take a tub bath for 6-8 weeks.
Expect my incision to feel normal?
As your incision heals, you may notice a numbness and burning that begins at about 3-4 weeks after your surgery and that this worsens until about 8 weeks after surgery. Then, this numbness and burning begin to feel better and should improve gradually over the next year.
Resume driving?
Typically, at 6 weeks, with permission from your cardiologist or surgeon.
Go back to work?
Usually, 6-12 weeks, depending on your work duties.
Have sexual relations?
Discuss this with your physician at your first post-operative visit.
Start to exercise? (How much?)
Your exercise program will actually begin in the hospital, with instructions for progressively increasing your activity. Your doctor or physical therapist will discuss this with you and tailor a plan that meets your needs. Later, your cardiac rehabilitation program, MULTIFIT, will help you with your exercise plans.
Swim?
Typically, at 3 months, with permission from your cardiologist or surgeon.
Lift things?
Usually, no more than 10 pounds for the first 3 months.
Lift an infant?
Typically, at 3 months.
*An emergency medical condition is (1) a medical or psychiatric condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in serious jeopardy to your health or serious impairment or dysfunction of your bodily functions or organs; or, (2) when you are in active labor and there isn’t enough time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital before delivery, or if transfer poses a threat to your or your unborn child’s health and safety.
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