Medicines

A pharmacist will talk with you about your medicines and when to take them at home before you are discharged.

Activity

Follow the guidelines set up by your UW Inpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation staff. 

Wound Care

Follow directions given to you by your VAD coordinator. 

• No showering unless approved by your surgeon.
• You must use the shower kit supplied by the VAD vendor in order to protect the electrical system and filter of your device.  For Thoratec patients, follow the special handout given to you by the hospital.

• Keep your incisions clean and dry.  Do not put ointments, powders, or lotions on your incision.

• Check your chest tubes sites, driveline, and incision line daily for signs of infection:  redness, swelling, tenderness, foul smelling drainage, or fever.
• Follow directions for the driveline dressing change.

• Keep your chest tube sites and sternal incision open to air unless they are draining.  If they are draining, cover them with dry gauze when you do your daily dressing change and before you go to bed at night.

• Your chest tube sutures will be removed in 2-3 weeks at a clinic appointment.  Please check that an appointment has been scheduled for this to be done.

Pain Control

It is normal to have some incision pain.  Take your pain medicines as needed.

Call Your Doctor

• If your temperature is greater than 101º F.

• If you gain or lose more than 2-3 pounds in 1-2 days or mroe than 5 pounds in 1 week.

• If you have any signs of infection as listed above.

Call 911 if you:

• Have severe shortness of breath or chest pain.
• Feel like you are going to faint or have fainted.
• Have a fast irregular heartbeat while resting for 10 minutes.
• Are found unconscious.