Pre-Op Day

In October of 2018 I had open heart surgery to correct a congenital heart defect. This is a post in a series of posts about different tests you may have. If you haven’t already check out the rest of my before your surgery posts.  These posts will be helpful if you are having these tests and want to know what to expect. Want to know the whole story? Check out my Introduction post.

Ok, so before your surgery you will have a pre-op day. On your pre-op day the doctors and nurses will do some tests to make sure that you are healthy (other than whats wrong with your heart). I had the following tests done on my pre-op day, but you might have different ones.

• Blood draw
• X-ray
• Vitals (height, weight, temperature, pulse, and blood pressure)
• Echocardiogram (echo)
• EKG

My mom had to sign a few papers, agreeing to let me have the surgery and stay in the hospital. These papers are called informed consent. On this day you will often go on a tour of the cardiac floor and/or meet with your surgeon. 

I would suggest bringing plenty of entertainment along with you to your pre-op day, because there is a reason they call it a pre-op DAY. There is a lot of waiting, at each appointment you have to wait in the waiting room, and then you have to wait in the pre-op office so that they can tell you your next appointment.