Surgery & Scars

Surgery

If you are due for surgery, there is a process that the hospital follows, and this starts with the Joint Cardiac Conference or JCC. Your case will be discussed by Doctors, Nurses, Surgeons, and Anaesthetists to make sure that what is being proposed will be a good outcome for you. For more information and explanation about the JCC click here.

After the JCC and with agreement from the team a surgery can be scheduled and the next step for you will be the Pre-Operative Assessment Clinic or POAC. Here you will meet a Clinical Nurse Specialist who will discuss the surgery, ask about the medications you take and check you have had an up-to-date dental check. In this appointment they can answer any questions you may have, so it would be a good idea to come with any questions that you want or need answers to. Some people bring in a note book with their questions listed so they don’t forget.

An excellent surgery booklet can be found here.‍

During hospital stays your CHD Health Youth Worker can visit you on the ward with their Rescue Rucksack full of games to pass the time!‍

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Procedures

Procedures are a little different to surgery and normally take place in the Catheter Lab (aka Cath Lab). In the lab a small wire or catheter can be passed through your veins, usually through the groin and into your heart to perform the procedure you have been booked in for.

You may be able to go home on the same day or may need to stay overnight for observation or some tests the following morning. Once you have the OK you will be discharged. 

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Scars

Thinking about surgery raises the question about scars which can itself be scary. When you see your Consultant or Clinical Nurse Specialist before your surgery, ask about your scar, how big will it be, will people be able to see it, how long will it take to heal etc. Remember to listen to the advice given about recovery and looking after your scars to make sure they heal quickly and well. 

We understand that scars can bring mixed emotions and feelings, some people are proud of their “zip” while others can feel a bit self-conscious or anxious about it.

There are some good videos of young people being interviewed about their scars on the British Heart Foundation website Here 

If you feel you would like some support discussing your scars and their impact, you can talk to your CHD Health Youth Worker or there is the ACHD Psychology service that can be accessed here.