Patients that will have a surgery need to complete admission procedure to allow enough time for necessary tests. The tests are routine and include urinal tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), X-rays, etc. For the patients with vale diseases, their teeth need to be checked and treated in necessary before any operations. Coronary angiogram must be done if it has not previously before the surgery. Once the tests have been completed, the patients may come to the hospital on the same day as the surgery. However, the general procedure is that the patients should complete admission procedures one day before the surgery

The surgeon who will operate you will examine you and give details about the surgery then answer your questions. The nurse who takes care of you will identify your needs and ensure you are comfortable. In addition, an anesthesiologist will see and evaluate you, and determine points to consider during the surgery. Some blood will be collected from you again before the surgery; a cannula will be inserted in the vessel (for IV administration of drugs); you will be demonstrated how to breath in the intensive care after the surgery, and informed about the date of the surgery. The date of the surgery is decided beforehand and it is performed on the agreed date. However, if it must be delayed because of an emergency patient requiring a surgery, it will be planned for the soonest date possible.

How long does the surgery take?

Coronary bypass or valve surgeries usually take 3 to 6 hours. The length of the time depends on the procedure and it can therefore be only estimated but not determined for sure.

Patient Relatives

There are certain locations available in the hospitals for patient relatives to wait during the surgery. Surgeon and other team members are informed about where the relatives will wait and can easily reach them when necessary.

After the Surgery

The patient is transferred to the intensive care unit after the surgery. They gradually come out of anesthesia and regain conscious. Some patients may not be able to move their hands and legs when they regain conscious. However, this will soon disappear and their body move will get back to normal.

Family Visits

The patients may stay in the intensive care unit for 1 to 3 days after the surgery. You may obtain information from the intensive care doctor and nurse during your stay. Patient visits are not allowed for hygiene conditions. The visits to patients requiring a long stay in the unit are allowed only under supervision of the nurse and for a short time.

Will I have a pain?

You will feel a mild discomfort on the place incised to access to the heart (incision is usually made over the midline of the sternum and from up to the down). If vein graft or grafts are prepared, one or several incisions may also be made on the feet. You may feel pain on these areas as well. However, you will receive some analgesics for the pain.

It is quite hard for a person to follow the time and fit in an environment that is active for 24 hours and lighted at all times. The sensations may become impaired and the mind may get blurred because of misdirection of sensations and conscious. This especially becomes apparent during the night.

We recommend patient relatives not to worry about temporary behavioral differences patients may display. It must always be considered that this is only temporary. The patient will be fully recovered within a few days when they are transferred to a calmer and quieter patient room. The patient will feel more vigorous as they get rest and return to normal sleep cycle.