"Getting ready for your child’s heart operation" ©, Copyright, 2000, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

(Use the PDF formatted version for printing.)

Welcome to the New York Weill Cornell Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Preoperative Program.

This booklet will give you and your child information about what to expect as you prepare for surgery.

Today we will perform a number of tests and give you a tour. Your child will also attend a class about getting ready for surgery.

• Go to Cardiology, room 677 at 10:00 am, or as scheduled
• Complete forms: the "Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Data Base," and the "Pediatric Anesthesia Record"
• Your child will have the following tests: an Echocardiogram, an EKG, and a Chest X-ray
• The surgeon can meet with you on this day to answer questions.
• You may also meet with an anesthesiologist.
• A History and Physical examination will be taken.
• The preparation class and tour will be given.
• Blood tests and urine tests will be taken.
• Insurance information will also be requested at this time.
• The preparation for surgery takes at least four hours.

If your child becomes ill within two weeks of the surgery date please call our office. Leave your contact number and a message that your child is ill. We will call you back. Also, contact your child’s Pediatrician. If necessary, we will reschedule your child’s surgery.

Between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm on the evening before surgery, please call 212-746-5299 for your scheduled admission time. If you have any additional questions about getting ready for surgery, they will also be answered at that time.

What to bring to the hospital

On the day of surgery, you do not need to bring your child’s personal items to the hospital, but you may wish to bring a favorite toy or blanket.

On the second or third day after surgery, you can bring more items such as those listed below. There is a small space at the bedside in the PICU for belongings

Clothes: Soft loose fitting tee shirts, sneakers, socks, underwear for use when your child is getting out of bed

Toys: stuffed animals, a blanket, a favorite toy, a battery-operated headset, coloring books, reading books, and similar items.

Personal items: toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, brush

Anesthesia

You and your child will meet with the anesthesiologist before surgery. The anesthesiologist will answer any questions you have. The anesthesiologist will also let you know whether your child’s regular medications should be given on the day of surgery.

One parent can go with your child into the operating room. Once the child is sleeping, you will be brought to the waiting area. You may wish to have breakfast at this time. Be sure to check that you have all your personal items with you.

You will wait in the 6^th floor Greenberg Pavilion Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Family Room (room 6-309). The cardiologist and the cardiothoracic nurse will keep you informed about your child’s progress.

You will meet the attending physician and the pediatric intensive care nurse who will be caring for your child. The surgeon will also meet with you in this room after surgery.

When you plan to leave the family room, please let the nurse or PICU unit clerk know where you are going and when you will be back.

We welcome parents and family members to visit.

• After surgery, the PICU staff usually needs about one hour to get your child ready for your visit. You will be brought in to see the child as soon as possible. If you have been waiting longer than one hour, and the staff has not spoken with you, please go to the PICU desk and ask when you can visit.
• Parents may call the PICU at any time. The telephone number is 212-746-0308. For privacy, staff will only give information to parents. Please tell friends and other relatives not to call the PICU for information.
• Please limit the visitors to two at a time.
• Parents may sit at their child’s bedside, but only one parent may stay overnight.
• A parent’s lounge is available for your use. We encourage you to use this room to take a break or to eat. Pay telephones are located near the G elevators.
• Bathrooms are across from the parent’s lounge.
• Vending machines for soft drinks and snacks are located next to the lounge.
• There is a television set at each child’s bedside. A VCR and video games are also available. Tapes and games may be brought in from home.
• All jewelry, cameras, radios, expensive toys and clothes should be taken home. Remember the hospital is not responsible for your valuables.
• Cellular phone policy: For patient safety, cellular phones are not allowed in patient care areas. Please be sure to turn your cell phone off.

A certified child life specialist will be available for therapeutic play and recreational services at the bedside. There is also a Child Life Resource Cabinet in the PICU for patients. The Child Life Playroom is located on Greenberg 6N. It is available for parents and siblings to sign out toys. If you need any other information about the Child life Program, please call Nickie Pedicini at
212-746-3518

After entering the hospital at the main 68^th Street entrance, walk straight ahead to the information desk, make a right turn and walk down the hallway to the Greenberg Pavilion. Make at right turn at the Greenberg hallway and take the elevators to the 6^th floor. Turn right on leaving the elevators and follow the signs to 6 South.

The Interfaith Chapel is located on the first floor near the 68^th Street entrance to Hospital. It is open 24 hours a day for prayer. A chaplain is available for bedside visits on request.

Located in the vending machine area and in the Greenberg Lobby first floor. They are available 24 hours a day for your banking convenience.

The Garden Café (cafeteria), located on the B level of the Main Building, serves breakfast and lunch. It is open Mon-Fri (closed on holidays). Breakfast is served from 6:45 am to 10:30 am, lunch from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.

A vending area is located next to the Garden Café on the B level. It is open 24 hours a day. Additional vending machines are located near the visitor lounges in the Greenberg pavilion.

Located in the information Lobby of the Main Building, the gift shop offers gift items, baby items, toiletries, newspapers, magazines, cards, stationery, candy, and snacks. Fresh flowers and plants are not allowed in the PICU.

Hours: Mon-Fri., 8:00 am to 8:00 pm; Sat. and Sun. 9:00 to 8:00 pm, Holidays: Special hours.

If you or other family members want to stay near the hospital overnight, contact the Helmsley Medical Tower for information about an apartment reservation for your family. The phone number is 212-472-8400.

Contact Drisdy Kee, PICU Social Worker at 212-746-3111 for a Ronald McDonald room reservation. This must be done 3 weeks in advance as space is limited.

You may wish to prepare your child for the hospital by reading one or more of these books about the experience. This is a brief list of the many wonderful books available for children being admitted to the hospital. Check your local library and bookstore for additional titles on this subject.