The day of surgery

Visitors may use either the parking meters found in various locations or the parking garage.

Weekly parking permits may be purchase at a reduced rate from the Parking Office in room CG 01 (C wing, Ground floor). Please call 416-480-4591 ext. 4123 for more information.

Admission to hospital will be the either the same day of your surgery (M-wing, Ground Floor) or the day before (D-wing, 3rd Floor.) This information will be sent to you from your surgeon's office.

If you are having same day surgery, you will be admitted to the preadmission area where your personal information will be checked. From there you will be transferred to the operating room. A member of the anesthetic department will meet you.

Nurses are available throughout your stay to talk with you and your family about your hospital experience. They can:

• Review the hospital procedures with you and your family
• Discuss your recovery in the hospital and at home
• Answer any questions you or your family might have
• Refer you to other team members who may be of assistance

What to tell your nurse:

• Any allergies you may have
• Foods you don't like or don't eat and/or food allergies
• How the hospital can contact your family
• Seeing or hearing problems
• The person(s) who will be at home with you following surgery
• Any concerns you may have
• Special meals like vegetarian, kosher, diabetic etc.

It is important to know the exact name, dose, and schedule of EACH medication you are taking! Ask your pharmacist for a computer generated list of your medications for you to keep in your wallet at all times.

Please bring all your medications - prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal - as well as the name and number of your regular pharmacy or family physician with you when you are admitted so that the staff know exactly what you are taking.

If you have any allergies to any medications, please describe the details of the reaction to your nurse or doctor.

If you are taking a blood thinner (anticoagulant) such as Coumadin®, your doctor will ask you to stop taking it 5 days before your surgery. If you are taking aspirin, aspirin containing medications, or Plavix® your doctor may ask you to stop taking it at least one week before your surgery.

PLEASE DO NOT STOP TAKING ANY OTHER MEDICATION WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING WITH YOUR DOCTOR.

Before your surgery, your doctor will ask you to sign a special consent form. This consent form will give the hospital and your doctor permission to treat you and perform the surgery. The doctor will discuss possible risks and benefits of your surgery with you. Please ask for more information if you do not understand.

Some people find it helpful to prepare a list of questions to ask the doctor.

Blood transfusion

It is possible that a blood transfusion may be required during or after your surgery, which also requires you to sign a consent form. This decision is made on an individual basis. If you have any concerns about this, please contact the Cardiovascular Coordinators or your surgeon's office. Transfusion consent is obtained at the same time, on the same form as the surgical consent.

Clinical trials

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre is a teaching hospital and is involved in cardiovascular research. Certain clinical trials are being conducted that may benefit you or future patients. If you are asked to participate, please take the time to ask questions or call your surgeon for further information.

After a cleansing shower, you will be asked to put on a hospital gown. Just before you are taken to the operating room you will be reminded to remove:

• Dentures
• Jewellery - it is advisable to remove and leave at home. Rings left on may need to be cut off if the swelling in the fingers cause it to be too tight.
• Hairpins or hairpieces
• All clothing, including underwear
• Contact lenses, artificial body parts
• Nail polish
• Eye glasses
• Makeup
• Hearing aides - these are removed after you are in the operating room and the nurse and anaesthetist have spoken with you.

The nursing staff is available to assist you. You may be given an injection (needle) or an oral medication (by mouth) before going to surgery to make you feel relaxed and drowsy. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE USED THE WASHROOM BEFORE RECEIVING THESE MEDICATIONS!

You will be taken to surgery on a stretcher. Please bring basic toiletries, housecoat, slippers, comb, toothbrush, glasses, for use before and after surgery. Belongs may be returned home with your family or stored in a locker on the ward D3.

Upon arrival to the operating room, the anaesthetist will give you medicine to put you to sleep and your operation will begin. Learn more about anesthesia.

During surgery you may be connected to a heart-lung bypass machine which provides oxygen to your blood during surgery. For patients having coronary artery bypass surgery, the saphenous vein (located in the legs), the mammary artery (located behind the chest wall), and sometimes the radial artery (located in the arm) may be used to bypass your blocked coronary arteries.

For all heart surgery patients, a chest incision will be made through the breastbone and then closed at the end of the operation with stainless steel wires. Dissolvable stitches are used to close the outer portion of your incision. The wires will remain and the stitches will dissolve on their own.

During your surgery, your family may go to the waiting area located on the second floor of M wing. Learn more about hospital amenities.

You will be in the operating room usually between 4-6 hours.