Practical information prior to heart surgery

The process before, during and after surgery

This information leaflet provides you and your family with general information about heart surgery and what you should expect when you come to the hospital. 

Please note that this leaflet contains general information only. It is a good idea to discuss the procedure with your family and they are welcome to attend the information sessions with the medial staff which will take place on the day of admission. 

PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Telephone

Section RT 3161: (+45) 3545 3161 (hospital ward)
Section RT 3162: (+45) 3545 3162 (hospital ward)

We prefer calls between 10.30 -12.30am and again from 16.30 - 20.00pm.

Intensive Care Unit 4141: (+45) 3545 4141
Intensive Care Unit 4141FT: (+45) 3545 6373

You may use your mobile phone, but please take into consideration other patients that are hospitalized. There is a free telephone and television at the hospital ward as well as free Wi-Fi, if you bring your laptop or other devices. It is recommended to bring and use earphones when using devices. It is also possible to buy earphones in the kiosk in the hospital.

Interpreter

If an interpreter is needed, including tele-interpretation, please contact the department. Only in exceptional circumstances is it possible to use a family member to translate.

Parking

Regrettably, it is not possible to get a parking permit for the hospital grounds. 

Transportation

If you have questions regarding transportation in relation to your admission, please contact the assessment secretary at (+45) 3545 2305.

Additional information

More information may be found at Rigshospitalets website:

www.rigshospitalet.dk/english/departments/heart-centre/department-of-cardiothoracic-surgery/Pages/default.aspx

The Heart Centre 

The Heart Centre consists of an Intensive Care Unit, Cardiological Laboratory and an Outpatient Clinic. 
In this department 1500 patients undergo heart surgery annually hence the hospital staff have great experience in treating and caring for patients who have had heart surgery.

The Cardiac Surgery Department is situated on 2 floors:
Ward 3161, entrance 3, 16th floor.
Ward 3162, entrance 3, 16th floor.

Surgery takes place on the 4th floor. 
The anesthesia, intensive care and recovery wards are also situated here. You will spend about a day here after your operation.

Scientific research and education

The Thoracic Surgery Department is a Heart- and Lung Surgery University Department which is active in both research and education.

Some patients may be asked to participate in a medical students training program. If you agree to participate, the medical student will often write up your medical history as a medical chart and may ask whether you will participate in their class with another medical student and one of the associated professors working as a medical doctor at the hospital. 

Participation is voluntary and will not affect your treatment. This usually involves writing the medical charts as well as participating in the lessons themselves. 

In addition, you may be asked to participate in scientific research. All scientific research, which is carried out in The Heart Centre, is approved by the management and the Scientific Committee for Ethics and therefore meets all the safety requirements for the patients. 

If everything is clear and you want to participate, you will be asked to sign an agreement form. We would like to emphasize, that participation in scientific research is voluntary. If you decide not to participate, it will not affect your treatment in any way. You can withdraw from the scientific research at any time, should you wish to do so. 

Visitors 

Prior to the operation you should decide which relative or friend are permitted to receive information about your treatment. Please be aware of visitor rules due to the Corona-epidemic and do not hesitate to contact the ward for updates. When you arrive at the ward a health professional will ask you for the name and phone number of your nearest family member or friend.

We would like to emphasize that it can be overwhelming to have a large group of visitors at the same time. 

If you have a large family/friends, we recommend, that you find one contact person. The contact person can contact the ward and inform the rest of the family/friends. The contact person is welcome to call us to get information about you. If there are serious changes in your condition, we will contact your family. 

About information and consent

According to the Danish Health Act no treatment can be initiated or continued without the patients informed consent. Prior to giving your consent, you will receive full information from the health professionals. You can withdraw your consent at any time. You can find the exact wording about information and consent at www.sundhed.dk.

The Heart Foundation (Hjerteforeningen)

The Heart Foundation has a variety of services to offer, which may be useful to you. Information about lifestyle, diet, exercise groups, support groups etc. can be found at www.hjerteforeningen.dk or you can contact one of the centers, which are located all around the country. They can also inform you, if there is a local branch in your area. 

The Heart Foundation can be contacted for advice on (+45) 8020 3366 (Hjertelinjen).

It is free and is staffed with experienced caregivers who can answer your questions about the heart and pulmonary circulation and life after heart surgery – or they can refer you to other professionals. All conversations are fully confidential.