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The events surrounding the Hospital Admission Process can be stressful and confusing. Understanding that process and taking certain steps to prepare yourself can ease the process.
There are two things you can do to help yourself through surgery. First, if you are a smoker - STOP SMOKING! Smoking robs your body of oxygen and interferes with your ability to recover quickly. Second, START EXERCISING! Maintaining or increasing your level of exercise before surgery is also key. Walking is an excellent form of exercise, and a daily walk is recommended. The more "fit" you are, the more likely you are to make a faster recovery.
Most patients will have a number of diagnostic tests and procedures before surgery. These may include chest x-ray, CT scan, bone scan, bronchoscopy, ventilation/perfusion studies, biopsies, and blood work. These studies are all part of the preoperative assessment. During your first visit, you will be evaluated in the office by a medical assistant who will assess your response to exercise and perform a pulmonary function test (PFT). If the results of either of these tests is sub-optimal, you may be given a list of exercises to perform or sent for pulmonary rehabilitation before surgery.
Most patients are admitted the day of their surgery, although for some procedures patients are admitted the evening before surgery. Shortly after your surgery is scheduled, you will be given an appointment at the Wiener Center for Preoperative Evaluation (Pre-Admitting Testing Center) for pre-operative blood work, EKG, and x-rays. At this time, you will also meet with a nurse practitioner for a history and physical. If all of the results are satisfactory, you will return home and then come to the hospital several hours before surgery. Generally speaking, patients get a much better night's sleep at home in their own bed.
Your family may wish to wait in the hospital for you on the day of your surgery. Beepers are available in the Surgical Liason offices and we encourage every family to use one. That way, your family can leave the hospital if they wish and the doctor can still keep in touch.
We find it is best for patients to limit the number of in-hospital visitors. You will be feeling tired after your surgery and will need to get rest. It is a good idea to designate one individual as your contact person, who will receive telephone calls from and give updates to family and friends about your condition. By doing so, you will also reduce the number of calls to the nurses station, which allows the nursing staff to devote more of their time to patient care. Some patients find that a policy of "don't call me, I'll call you" works best.
Email KC Zahner, Administrative Director, for comments about this website.
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NOTICE: This email is not for medically related issues. Comments or concerns regarding patient-related care should be directed to the Thoracic Surgery Clinic at 617-732-6824.
Division of Thoracic Surgery
Brigham and Women's Hospital
75 Francis Street
Boston, MA 02115