before your lung surgery - royal brompton hospital your... · 2018-10-29 · general health and...

A lifetime of specialist care

Before your lungsurgery

(your stay in hospital for lung surgery)

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Lung surgery is carried out tohelp patients with differentconditions. Some patientsneed lung surgery becausethey have emphysema, lungcancer, or other cancers thathave spread to the lungs.Sometimes, surgery is needed to take biopsies (tissue samples) of the lung for diagnosis.

Your consultant will discuss yourcondition with you and whattype of surgery you may need.

If you have questions aboutyour condition or surgery,please ask us. We can use theimage below to discuss whichpart(s) of your lungs havebeen affected and the type ofsurgery recommended.

Lungs: Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator; C. Carl Jaffe, MD, cardiologist

Your stay in hospital for lung surgery

Why do I need lung surgery?

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Why do I need lung surgery? 03

Before my lung surgery 04

What if my tests reveal cancer? 05

Coming into hospital for lung surgery 05

What are the risks of surgery? 08

Are there any long-term side effects? 09

What happens on the day of surgery? 10

How is lung surgery carried out? 12

What happens immediately after surgery? 14

Managing pain after surgery 14

Medical equipment used after surgery 16

What are chest drains and why might I need them after surgery? 16

How do I care for my chest drains? 18

What will happen during my recovery in hospital? 18

What are the different stages in recovery? 19

What should I eat to help my recovery? 20

What will happen when I leave hospital? 20

Royal Brompton Hospital contacts 22

Harefield Hospital contacts 23

Other useful contacts 25

Some advice from previous patients 26

This leaflet gives you information on your stay in hospital for lungsurgery. It does not replace the need for personal advice from ahealthcare professional. Please ask us if you have any questions.

Table of contents

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If your tests reveal cancer, yourconsultant will discuss the mostappropriate treatment withyou. This may include surgery,radiotherapy, chemotherapy,other forms of medication(targeted therapies), or acombination of treatments.

If you feel the need to talk tosomeone about your

condition, treatment, or anyother concerns, clinical staffare always available. OurMacmillan clinical nursespecialists in cancer care can provide support andinformation for you and your family. Religiousrepresentatives and Macmillan welfare rightsadvisers are also available.

What if my tests reveal cancer?

We usually ask that you comeinto hospital a day before oron the day of your surgery,but it may be necessary tocome in a few days earlier forsome final tests. If so, we willdiscuss the details with youbefore you come into hospital.

Please remember to bring allyour medicines (in theiroriginal containers) with youwhen you come into hospital.

During your stay in hospital,staff from different specialistareas will help take care of you.

Your surgical team willmanage your care. The team

includes a consultant thoracicsurgeon, registrar, juniordoctor and an advanced nursepractitioner in thoracicsurgery. A member of thisteam will see you every day, usually on a morning ward round.

On your first day in hospital, amember of the team willexamine you and ask questionsabout your medical history, ifthis was not completed inclinic before you came intohospital. He or she will discusswith you the specific type ofsurgery planned and ask youto sign a consent form. Thisform records that you

Coming into hospital for lung surgery

Before your surgery, we willarrange tests to check yourgeneral health and fitness for surgery.

These may include:

• Blood tests – to check differentareas of your general health.

• Chest X-ray – to look at yourheart and lungs.

• Electrocardiogram (ECG) – tolook at your heart rhythm.

• Lung function tests – tocheck your lung capacity andhow well your lungs areworking. We have a separateleaflet called Your lungfunction tests. Please ask ifyou would like a copy.

Sometimes we need to carryout tests under generalanaesthetic to check yourcondition, decide if surgery isthe right treatment for you,and if so, what type of surgery.

Tests that may be carried outunder general anaestheticinclude:

• Fibreoptic bronchoscopy – tocheck the airways of the

lungs. A thin flexible tubewith a camera at the end isguided down your windpipeto your lungs. At the sametime the doctor may takebiopsies (tissue samples) for analysis.

• Rigid bronchoscopy – tocheck the airways of thelungs. A thin and rigid (firm)tube with a camera at theend is guided down yourwindpipe to your lungs. Atthe same time the doctormay take biopsies foranalysis. Rigid bronchoscopygives a better view of theairways and makes itpossible to take moredifficult samples than using a flexible tube.

• Mediastinoscopy – oftencarried out at the same time as a bronchoscopy. A small incision (cut) is made in the upper chest. A telescopic camera isinserted into the smallincision that lets us seepictures of the spacebetween the two lungs. We may also take tissuesamples for analysis.

Before my lung surgery

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understand the surgery andagree to go ahead with it. If you have any questions, please ask.

When you arrive, a nurse willshow you around the ward,find out how you are and startto plan your care with you.Your nurse will also help youplan to ensure that you havethe right support at homeafter you have left hospital.

A specialist doctor called ananaesthetist, will visit you onthe ward before your surgeryto discuss your medical history,what will happen to you in theanaesthetic room and the risksto you of having a generalanaesthetic. He or she will alsoplan your care immediatelyafter the surgery, includingpain relief and your recovery.Please let the anaesthetistknow if you are takinganticoagulants (medicines toprevent blood clots), aspirin,antiplatelets such asclopidogrel (also preventsblood clots), medicines fordiabetes, or antidepressants.The anaesthetist may also giveyou a premedication to helpyou relax before surgery.

During surgery, theanaesthetist will check yourheart, lungs and kidneys andgive you medication to keepyou asleep and pain free.After surgery, we will wakeyou up and take you to therecovery unit where we willlook after you until you arewell enough to move to thehigh dependency unit (HDU)or intensive care.

A clinical nurse specialist (CNS)can discuss with you anytreatments you have beenoffered and how thesetreatments can help. The CNScan help manage your care atour hospitals and liaise withthe team at the hospital youwere referred from. He or shecan work with you to find outyour specific needs relating toyour medical condition, howyou feel about your condition,and how you will cope whenyou are back home. Your CNScan put you in touch with theright members of our specialist team, such as thewelfare rights adviser,discharge co-ordinators orpsychological support.


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A physiotherapist may see youthe day after surgery. He orshe will show you how to keepyour lungs clear and get youexercising regularly to helpyou recover from surgery more quickly.

If you need specialist adviceand support on food andnutrition, a dietitian candiscuss this with you.

The discharge co-ordinatorscan liaise with your local socialservices to set up any supportyou or your carer may needwhen you are back at home.

Most patients are able tomake their own arrangementsfor travelling back home.However, if you think you willneed special assistance, pleasediscuss this with your nurse.

The Macmillan welfare rightsadviser can advise you on anybenefits that may be availableto you and discuss issues such as employment rights, orin some circumstances, grantsto help with the costs of your illness.

Occupational therapists canadvise you on how to continuewith your daily activities afteryour lung surgery, includingany equipment you may needto help you live moreindependently at home.

A pharmacist will visit theward twice each day to checkyour medication and discussany issues you may have.

The pain management nursespecialist will work with you,your consultant and the wardnurse to minimise any pain ordiscomfort you mayexperience during your stay.

If you would like to talk to areligious representative,please ask us.

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Blood clot (deep veinthrombosis, or DVT)There is a risk of developing ablood clot in a vein aftersurgery. To help reduce the riskof blood clots, we will ask youto wear supportive stockingsduring your stay in hospital.The stockings improvecirculation in your legs whileyou are in bed and not movingthem around as much as usual.It is important that you keepwearing your stockings untilwe suggest the best time toremove them. You will alsohave a small daily injection tothin your blood. Othermeasures that will reduce therisk of DVT are staying activeby walking as much as possibleand keeping well hydrated bydrinking plenty of fluids. If aclot forms, we can treat it withextra medication.

Risks associated with yourgeneral anaestheticThe risks associated withgeneral anaesthesia are verylow. Risks vary for each patientand your anaesthetist willdiscuss this with you.

The risk of deathAll surgical procedures carrysome risk and lung surgery caninclude a risk of death. Therisks are different for eachoperation and each individualpatient. Your surgeon willdiscuss these risks with you.

It is important you understandthe risks and benefits ofsurgery and alternativesavailable to you. If you haveany questions, please ask us.


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All medical procedures carrysome risk. It is important toremember that we would notrecommend surgery if we didnot believe the benefitsoutweigh any risks. The riskswill be different for eachpatient, so we will discuss therisks that apply to you in moredetail before the procedure.Possible risks include:

BleedingIt is normal to lose some bloodthrough your chest drains (seepages 14-16 for moreinformation on chest drains). If blood loss is more thanexpected, we may have totake you back to the theatreso your surgeon can find thecause of bleeding. You mayneed to have a bloodtransfusion.

Prolonged (long-lasting)air leakIf air leaks from the lung overa prolonged period, you mayneed to go home with a chestdrain in place. We will monitor your chest drain atfollow-up visits.

Chest infectionSometimes a chest infectioncan develop after surgery.Your physiotherapist willdiscuss with you how you canreduce the risk of a chestinfection. It is important thatyou keep as active as possibleafter surgery. We will workwith you to slowly increaseyour level of exercise day by day.

Wound infectionThere is a small risk ofdeveloping a wound infection,which may need antibiotics. Toreduce the risk of infection,we ask that you shower beforeyour surgery with a liquid soapand change into a cleantheatre gown. It is importantthat you and your visitorswash your hands frequentlyand use the alcohol rubsprovided. Please avoidtouching your wound as thismay increase the risk ofinfection. We have a separateleaflet on Hygiene and woundcare after heart and lungoperations. Please ask if youwould like a copy.

Some patients develop long-term pain problemsaround their scar. Long-termpain can be treated withmedication.

Some patients may find thatthey get breathless more easilyafter surgery. If you have anyquestions about breathlessness,please ask us.

Are there any long-term side effects?

What are the risks of surgery?

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What happens in theanaesthetic room? We will check your consentform and wristband and helpyou onto the operating table.

We will place a small drip,usually in the back of thehand, to help you fall asleep.For major surgery, we mayinsert another small tube,usually in the wrist, tocontinuously measure yourblood pressure during surgery.Both of these can be donewith local anaesthetic so theyare not painful.

So we can measure your heartrate and oxygen levels in yourblood, electrodes (small stickypatches) will be attached toyour chest and an oxygenmask placed over your mouth.This is not painful.

After you are asleep, theanaesthetist will usually insertanother drip into a bigger veinin the neck and a catheter intothe bladder to drain any urine.

Once you are asleep, abreathing machine (ventilator)will support your lungs. Theventilator is connected to atube inserted down yourwindpipe.

On the wardIt is very important that youdo not eat anything for sixhours before your surgery.However, you can drink wateror black tea up to two hoursbefore your surgery. You canalso drink water with any pillsthat the anaesthetist asks youto take.

If you are unsure, please askone of the nurses.

We will ask you to take a bathor shower and put on a cleanhospital gown. We will alsoprovide you with compressionstockings to help preventblood clots developing duringand after surgery.

Your surgeon will use a specialmarker pen to mark the areaon your skin where theincision will be made.

PremedicationIf you have been prescribedpremedication, the nurse

looking after you will give youthis one to two hours beforethe surgery, which may makeyou a little sleepy. Therefore,it is important that you stay inbed after you have taken thepremedication or ask us tohelp you if you need to getout of bed.

Leaving the wardIf your family members wantto wait with you before thesurgery, please mention this tothe ward staff.

When you go into theoperating theatre, we will lockaway any personal items forsafekeeping until you returnto the ward. Please pack yourtoiletries and other smallitems, which you may needstraight after surgery, in aseparate bag.

Before you go into theanaesthetic room a member of theatre staff will check your details.

What happens on the day of surgery?

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There are three main ways asurgeon can carry out lungsurgery. Your surgeon willdiscuss which option is best for you.

ThoracotomyThis is an incision that runsaround the side of the chest toaccess the lung. Sometimes itmay only be a few centimetreslong, but it can run fromunder the nipple and aroundonto the back under theshoulder blade (about 20-30centimetres).

Video assisted thoracoscopy(VATS)This is often referred to askeyhole surgery. It involvespassing a telescopic camerathrough small cuts in the chestto access the lung or pleura(lining of the lung) undervideo guidance. The surgeonwill make one, two or threesmall incisions on the side ofthe chest to insert the cameraand surgical tools to carry outthe surgery. Not all surgerycan be performed using VATS.

If VATS cannot be performedat the time of surgery, yoursurgeon will usually carry outa thoracotomy operation (see above).

SternotomyThis is where a cut is madethrough the sternum(breastbone) in order to gain access to both of thechest cavities.

How is lung surgery carried out?

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Our aim is to ensure your pain is at a level that you candeal with. It is important thatyou tell us if you have anyincreased pain or discomfortso that we can make changesto your pain-relievingmedication.

For the first 24-72 hours afteryour surgery, we will give youpain medication in one of thefollowing ways:

• Epidural: medicationthrough a small tube in yourback – this is usually insertedwhile you are in theanaesthetic room. We have aseparate leaflet calledEpidurals for pain relief aftersurgery. Please ask us if youwould like a copy.

• Paravertebral Block (PVB):medication through a smalltube placed in the chestcavity at the time of the surgery.

• Patient controlled analgesia(PCA): medication through adrip in your hand or arm.PCA lets you give themedication to yourself bypressing a button when youfeel you need it. There is norisk of addiction oroverdosing. We have aseparate leaflet calledPatient controlled analgesia.Please ask us if you wouldlike a copy.

• Intravenous infusion:medication through a drip inyour hand or arm. A pumpgives you a constant dose of medication.

Once you are eating anddrinking again, we will alsogive you pain relief tablets atregular intervals to keep youas comfortable as possible.

We will discuss the best painrelief method with you.


What happens immediately after surgery?

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Before taking you to therecovery unit, we will wakeyou up and remove the tubein your windpipe. You willthen receive oxygen through a facemask.

A specially trained recoverynurse will look after you,making sure that you are notin pain and that you arebreathing well.

We may also take a chest X-raywhile you are in the recoveryward to check that your drains

are in place and your lungs arere-inflating.

You may need to stay in therecovery unit overnight or mayhave to go back to the highdependency unit and / or theward so we can continue tomonitor your progress closely.

Your family and friends will beable to see you when you areback on HDU or the ward. One of our nurses will talk tothem and bring them to see you.

Managing pain after surgery

During your stay in hospital your nurse will use a scale of 0 to 10 (0 being no pain, 10 being worst pain) to check yourpain level with you (see image below).

How strong is your pain? What about when you move around or cough?

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

NO PAIN

WORSTPOSSIBLE

PAIN

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We use two different types ofchest drains at the Trust (seeimages below). We will discusswith you which drain you willhave and how best to lookafter it.

At first, some patients mayalso need a suction device tohelp their lungs re-inflate. Thelength of time patients needto stay on the suction device isdifferent for each patient. Ifyou need a suction device, wewill discuss this with you inmore detail.

We may also ask you to walkaround the ward or use anexercise bike to help yourlungs re-inflate fully. Chestdrains will be removed afterthey have finished drainingfluid and air. This usually takesa few days.


You may have some or all ofthe following for the first 24-72 hours after your surgery:

• Up to three chest drains toremove fluid and air fromyour chest and help yourlungs to re-inflate.

• A cardiac (heart) monitor sowe can check your heartbeat.

• One or two drips in yourhand(s) so we can give youfluids and / or medicines.

• Arterial line (a drip that goesinto an artery) to monitoryour blood pressure andoxygen levels.

• Neckline (a drip that goesinto a vein in your neck) tomonitor your blood pressureand fluid levels.

• Bladder catheter (a tubegoing into your bladder) todrain away urine.

• Oxygen saturation monitor(clip attached to your fingeror ear lobe) to measure theamount of oxygencirculating in your blood.

• Oxygen mask (over yourmouth and nose) or nasalprongs (two soft plastictubes under nostrils) toprovide oxygen after yoursurgery if needed.

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Most patients need chestdrains after surgery. Chestdrains are designed to removethe blood, fluid and air thatcollect within the chest cavityafter surgery.

The drain is a one-way systemthat prevents fluid and airfrom returning to the chest.

One end of a plastic tube isplaced in your chest and theother end goes into adrainage bottle. The tube isheld in place with a stitch. Thedrain is placed between theribcage and the lung.

What are chest drains and why might I needthem after surgery?

Medical equipment used after surgery

Electronic chest drain beingcarried by a patient

Underwater seal drain

Note: the patient iswearing compression

stockings to minimise therisk of blood clots.

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unconsciously be keeping itstill for fear of pain. If you donot move your arm, it may

develop into a stiff shoulder,which would requiretreatment in the future.


To help you take care of yourchest drain(s) you should:

• Avoid trapping, kicking orfolding the tubes as this maystop them from draining.

• Try to avoid the tubesgetting caught in clothing orequipment to preventpulling on them as this maycause discomfort and pain.

• If the tube becomesdetached, call a nurseimmediately and he / she willensure the system is correctlyattached again. You mayneed an extra chest X-ray tocheck this.

If you are using an underwaterseal drain, you should:

• Keep the chest drain bottlesupright and standing on thefloor. Please do not worry ifthe bottle tips over. Simplystand it up again and ask anurse to check everything isworking properly.

• Make sure you keep thebottles below the level ofyour chest at all times. Thedrains work using gravity sothe flow out of your chestmust always be downwards.

• Carry the bottle(s) either bythe handle or in a carrier.

How do I care for my chest drains?

Stage 1 (day of surgery)• Start pain medication

Stage 2• Get out of bed and sit in chair• Continue pain medication• Physiotherapist visits to teach exercises and then repeat these

hourly• Most tubes and lines removed, but drains remain• You may have a chest X-ray

Stage 3• Chest X-ray• Drains removed• Exercise increased• Taking pain medication by mouth only• Wound dressings removed as requested by your surgical team

Stage 4• Wound checked daily• Receive advice about exercise and pain medication at home• Receive After your lung surgery – guidelines for recovery

information leaflet • Chest X-ray• Walk around with physiotherapist if needed

Stage 5• Chest X-ray• Go home

What are the different stages in recovery?

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Exercise is a very importantpart of your recovery. As soonas possible after your surgery,the physiotherapist will helpyou to start with basicexercises. This usually involvesshort walks around the wardwith assistance if needed. Asyour recovery progresses, youshould be able to walk further.

If you are unable to move awayfrom your bed due to lines and

drains, you can exercise bywalking on the spot or using astatic exercise bike.

If you have any sputum(phlegm) after your surgery,the physiotherapist will showyou how to clear it effectively.

The physiotherapist will alsoensure that you can move yourarm fully on the operated side.This is because you may

What will happen during my recovery in hospital?

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When you leave hospital wewill give you:

A supply of medicationYour nurse will discuss themedication with you and howto take it. The pharmacist willgive you enough medicationfor the first few weeks. Youcan arrange a repeatprescription from your GP ifneeded. You should take painmedication for as long as youfeel you need it. We have aseparate leaflet calledManaging your pain at homeafter lung surgery, whichincludes advice on how andwhen to reduce your painmedication. Please ask us for acopy if you have not receivedone. If you need any advice onyour medication, you can callour medicines helpline on 020 7351 8901.

An outpatientappointmentThis will usually be three to sixweeks after your surgery. Youwill be able to discuss yourwound, pain you are havingand your general recovery atthis appointment.

A letter for your ownrecords and one to handto your GPIt is important that you do notleave the hospital withoutthese letters – they list yourmedication and describe thesurgery you had.


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You will need more calories(energy) from your food anddrink to help your body toheal and regain strength afterthe surgery. Vitamins andminerals are also important forhealing, so it is important toget a balance of nutrientsfrom your food. You will alsoneed fibre to help regularbowel function.

You may find it is easier to eatsmaller amounts more often.Extra snacks are alwaysavailable. If you think this mayhelp, please ask your nurse.

If you are having any problemswith your diet talk to yournurse who will be able to giveadvice or refer you to adietitian as needed.

What should I eat to help my recovery?

Please note that hospitaltransport is only available topatients with medicalconditions that prevent themfrom using other transportand who do not have relativesor friends who can help them.

Please arrange for a familymember or friend to take youhome when you leavehospital. You can stay in thedischarge lounge / day roomuntil he / she can pick you up.

Before you go home, we willcheck your wound and makesure your stitches are in place.The stitches will dissolve over time.

If you had a chest drainremoved after your surgery,you will need to have thedrain stitch(es) removed withina week after you leavehospital. We will arrange foryour GP practice or districtnurse to remove your stitches.

If you have any problems withyour wound when you are athome, such as redness,soreness, or if the wound feelshot to touch or oozes liquid,please see your GP or call theward for advice.

What will happen when I leave hospital?

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Relatives’ accommodation office 020 7351 8044

Medical secretariesSecretary to Mr Dusmet 020 7351 8228

Secretary to Mr Jordan 020 7351 8559

Secretary to Mr Ladas 020 7351 8567

Secretary to Mr Lim 020 7351 8591

Where a bleep number is listed, call the main switchboard andask for the bleep number. Please contact the individual ward tocheck visiting times.

Switchboard 020 7352 8121

Princess Alexandra ward 020 7351 8596

Sir Reginald Wilson ward 020 7351 8483

Adult intensive care unit (AICU) 020 7351 8587

Recovery unit 020 7351 8478

High dependency unit (Elizabeth Ward) 020 7351 8595

Specialist physiotherapist bleep 7301

Macmillan lead nurse for cancer 07531 978 548Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Macmillan lung nurse specialist 020 7352 8121extension 4134 or 4133 or bleep 7068 or 7079

Advanced practitioner – thoracic surgery 020 7352 8121bleep 1353

Pain management nurse specialist 020 7352 8121 extension 2408 or bleep 7037 or 7064

Occupational therapy 020 7352 8121extension 4453

Macmillan welfare rights adviser 020 7352 8121extension 4736

Patient advice and liaison service (PALS) 020 7349 7715

Medicines helpline 020 7351 8901

Royal Brompton Hospital contacts

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Where a bleep number is listed, call the main switchboard andask for the bleep number. Please contact the individual ward tocheck visiting times.

Switchboard 01895 823 737

Maple ward 01895 828 552

Cedar 1 ward 01895 828 618

Cedar 2 ward 01895 828 581

Cherry Tree day case unit 01895 828 658

High dependency unit (HDU) 01895 828 572

Intensive therapy unit (ITU) 01895 828 685/2

Advanced practitioners in thoracic surgery bleep 6253 or 6182

Specialist physiotherapist bleep 6306

Macmillan lung nurse specialist 01895 828 989bleep 6181 or 6310

Macmillan lead nurse for cancer 07531 978 548Mon-Fri 9am-5pm

Pain management nurse specialist bleep 6144 or 6165

Harefield Hospital contacts

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SMOKEFREE 0800 02224 332 (Advice to help you quit smoking) www.smokefree.nhs.uk

Macmillan Cancer Support 0808 808 0000www.macmillan.org.uk

Information Prescription Service www.nhs.uk/ips

Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation 0333 323 7200www.roycastle.org

Cancer Research UK 0808 800 4040www.cancerresearchuk.org

British Lung Foundation (BLF) 03000 030 555(local support groups) 020 7688 5555

www.blf.org.uk

Lymphoma Association 0808 808 5555www.lymphomas.org.uk

Sarcoma UK 020 7250 8271www.sarcoma.org.uk

Disability Benefits helpline 08457 123 456www.gov.uk/disability-benefits-helpline

Lynda Jackson Cancer Information Centre 01923 844 014 Mount Vernon Hospital www.ljmc.org

Carers’ Trust 0844 800 4361www.carers.org

Cancer Black Care 020 8961 4151www.cancerblackcare.org

Mesothelioma UK 0800 169 2409www.mesothelioma.uk.com

Other useful contacts

Occupational therapy bleep 6304 or 6406

Macmillan welfare rights adviser 020 7352 8121extension 4736 or bleep 7550

Relatives’ accommodation 01895 828 823 or 01895 828 599

Patient advice and liaison service (PALS) 01895 823 737 extension 6572

Medicines helpline 020 7351 8901

Medical secretariesSecretary to Mr Anikin 01895 838 558

Secretary to Ms Beddow and Mr Kyparissopoulos 01895 838 948

Secretary to Mr McGonigle 01895 838 621

If you have concerns about any aspect of the service you havereceived in hospital and feel unable to talk to those peopleresponsible for your care, call PALS on 020 7349 7715 or [email protected]. This is a confidential service.

Harefield Hospital contacts (continued)

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Your notes

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What to bring• Slippers that fit comfortably and have a good grip and a

light dressing gown.

• Pyjamas can be comfortable as they are easy to use withthe lines and tubes.

• Your own wash bag and toiletries.

• A small personal radio, or MP3 player, with earphones.

• Books, magazines, laptop or tablet computer (free wi-fi isavailable to connect to the internet).

On the ward• Remind your visitors to stick to the visiting times. You will

be tired after your operation and you will need rest.

• Strong pain medication that you need after the surgerymay make you drowsy, forgetful and even havehallucinations. Ask the specialist pain nurses to get theright medication and dose for you.

• You may forget things that you have been told and needto have someone repeat them. Don’t worry, this phasepasses quickly.

• Find out from your team when they will have resultsready after your operation. You may want your family ora friend to be with you and help you remembereverything that you have been told.

• If you do not understand or remember anything, don’t beafraid to ask more questions or get someone to writethings down for you.

Some advice from previous patients

Royal Brompton HospitalSydney StreetLondonSW3 6NPtel: 020 7352 8121textphone: (18001) 020 7352 8121

Harefield HospitalHill End RoadHarefieldMiddlesexUB9 6JHtel: 01895 823 737textphone: (18001) 01895 823 737

Website: www.rbht.nhs.uk

Brosu� rteki bilginin Tu� rkçe tercu� mesi için tedavi goru� yoroldugunuz bolu� me bas vurunuz. Bolu� m personeli tercu� meningerçeklesmesini en kisa zamanda ayarlacaktir.

© Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust October 2013

before your lung surgery - royal brompton hospital your... · 2018-10-29 · general health and...

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