Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG)

What to Expect

What to Do the Night Before

Depending on your situation, you may be able to arrive at the hospital the day of your surgery, or you may be admitted to the hospital a day or two prior to the surgery. Your physician will give you instructions. Regardless of whether you are at home or in the hospital the night before the surgery, you will need to do the following:

1. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight before your procedure. You will be instructed on whether to take your regular medications or not. In addition, you will most likely be given some additional medications to take the night before surgery and the morning of surgery to help prepare you for anesthesia.
   
   
2. Pack a small suitcase, as you will spend several days in the hospital. Include your robe, house slippers, gowns or pajamas, and toilet articles such as toothbrush, toothpaste, razor or electric shaver, shaving cream, hand lotion, underwear, etc.
   
   
3. Arrange to have someone drive you home from the hospital once you are discharged, as you will not be allowed to drive for a few weeks following the procedure.
   
   
4. Bring a list of all medications you are currently taking.
   
   
5. You will be given special soap to shower or bathe with, so that you can scrub your chest and legs two to three times to help remove germs from your skin. You will be bathed with the soap again the morning of surgery.
   
   
6. If you are in the hospital the night before your surgery, a nurse or assistant will use clippers to trim the hair from your neck to your knees or ankles. If you are at home the night before, the hair will be removed the morning of surgery after you arrive at the hospital.
   
   
7. You may be given an antibiotic to take before surgery.
   
   
8. You may be given a sleeping pill to take the night before surgery to help you get sufficient rest and sleep before the procedure. If you are not offered a sleeping pill and think you will need one, be sure to ask your physician to prescribe one for you.
   
   
9. Your recovery period will take several weeks, so make sure that any urgent or complicated matters related to your family, work, or home situation are taken care of before you go to the hospital.

If you are in the hospital the night before the procedure, you will be visited by several people: the anesthesiologist (physician) or anesthetist (physician's assistant [PA] or nurse anesthetist) who will be in charge of your anesthesia during the surgery; a respiratory therapist who will instruct you on breathing exercises to be done after surgery; and a nurse who will instruct you in more detail about your procedure and what will happen afterward. If you have any questions during these visits, please be sure to ask them. If you come to the hospital the day of your surgery, you will receive this information before your procedure.

Diagnostic Tests Before the Procedure

Several procedures or tests are usually completed at some point prior to CABG. These tests may include EKG, blood work (blood count; cardiac isoenzymes to check for damage to the heart muscle; electrolytes such as potassium, calcium, and sodium; bleeding studies to assess how well your blood clotting system works; tests to assess kidney function), other lab work such as a urinalysis, chest x-ray, myocardial perfusion study such as MUGA or thallium, and/or echocardiography. If you have any type of breathing problems or a lung condition, you may have pulmonary function tests done before the procedure to determine how well your lungs will tolerate the surgery.

Scheduling/Registration Information

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Where the Procedure is Done

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Who Performs the Procedure

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Directions to the Hospital

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It is important to arrive at your scheduled time. Your procedure may not begin immediately due to varying lengths of procedures scheduled before your procedure. You will be updated as frequently as possible.

Preparing for the Procedure in the Hospital

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• Description of IV, site preparations, and medications that may be administered - An intravenous (IV) line will be started in your hand or arm prior to the procedure for injection of medication and to administer IV fluids, if needed. You will be asked to take a shower or bath and scrub your chest and legs again with the special antibiotic soap (this may be done at home if you are coming to the hospital the day of your procedure). You will be given a hospital gown to wear. You will need to remove your dentures, glasses, and any prosthetic devices such as hearing aids, contact lenses, or artificial limbs. In addition, you will need to remove all jewelry and either give it to a family member for safekeeping or have your nurse put it in the hospital's designated place, such as a safe. You will receive a sedative medication in your IV before the procedure to help you relax.
  
  
• Consent forms - You will be asked to sign a consent form after your physician explains the procedure, expected results, and possible complications and risks. Please read through the form carefully. If you have questions about anything in the consent form, please ask your physician to explain the information to you.
  
  
• Description of research studies - You may be asked before or after your procedure if you would like to participate in a research study. We believe research is important to our continued effort to improve care for the patients of tomorrow. However, you are not obligated to participate in any study, nor will your medical care be affected by your decision. Nonetheless, we would like you to make an informed decision. Should you have any questions about the research study you may decide to participate in, please feel free to ask your physician or the research associate during your visit.
  

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