Patient Pre-op Checklist: Lung Surgery
First visit: Meet with Surgeon
Talk about your health and surgery.
Pre-op Tests may include
Echo date ________
CT scan date ________
Pulmonary function tests date ________
Other: ________________________________
Second visit: Pre-op Work-up (with primary doctor or members of lung surgery team)
Have blood drawn in lab and a chest x-ray done first.
Meet with nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant.
Meet with Learning Center nurse.
Meet with Anesthesia Screening Clinic nurse.
Do other tests before surgery, if needed.
Smoking Cessation
If you smoke, you must stop smoking at least 10 days before surgery. If you smoke anytime during the 10 days before your surgery, your surgery will be cancelled. Smoking slows healing. When you smoke, you are more likely to get pneumonia after surgery. If you need help quitting, call:
• Smoking Cessation Clinic (608) 263-0573
• Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line 1-800-784-8669 (1-800-QUIT-NOW)
• Your primary care provider
Other ways to improve your health before your surgery
Start walking. Try to walk at least 20 minutes most days of the week. If you haven’t been active, start slowly. Try walking 5-10 minutes a day and slowly increase the time. You will walk at least 4 times a day in the hospital after your surgery.
Eat well-balanced, healthy meals. Tell your surgeon right away, if you aren’t able to eat or you’re losing weight. Healthy eating helps you heal. Poor nutrition or weight loss slows healing and may lead to problems such as infection.
Arrange for leave from work, if needed
Your surgeon’s office will help you fill out Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) papers or other leave paperwork. Please contact the office if you need help.
Dr. Weigel’s secretary Dr. Maloney’s secretary
Dawn Albrecht Colleen Buol
(608) 265-0499 (608) 263-5215
H4/310A H4/368
600 Highland Ave 600 Highland Ave
Madison, WI 53792 Madison, WI 53792
May Complete a Power of Attorney for Health Care or Living Will
You may want to complete a Power of Attorney (POA) for Health Care or Living Will before surgery. A POA allows you to name a health care agent who could speak for you if you were not able to understand your health care choices and make your wishes known.
If you choose to fill one out, please complete and sign it before coming to surgery. If you have questions or need help with the form, please call our Patient Relations office at (608) 263-8009. If our hospital doesn’t have a copy, please bring the completed form with you on the day of your surgery. Your nurse in the First Day Surgery unit will make a copy of your form and give your form back to you. The hospital copy will be kept in the Medical Records Department.
Home or closer place to stay night before surgery
You may want to stay in Madison the night before your surgery if you do not live close. A Housing/Hotel Accommodations Coordinator (608) 263-0315 can provide you with a list of hotels in Madison. He can also arrange for your stay at a discount rate.
Discuss and arrange post-op care with family
After lung surgery, you can expect to stay in the hospital about 1-3 days if you have had a wedge resection or lobectomy. If you have had a pneumonectomy, you can expect to stay for about 5-7 days. You may need to stay longer. Your doctor will decide how long you need to stay after surgery.
Before you leave the hospital, you will learn how to care for yourself at home. A friend or family member should hear your instructions with you on the day of discharge.
When you leave the hospital, you will need to have someone drive you home and stay with you until your first follow-up visit. This means that you will need to have a responsible adult with you in your home 24 hours a day for about 5-7 days. You may not be able to drive for 1-3 weeks. You will not be able to lift more than 10 pounds for 2 weeks after surgery.
Please write the name of the person or persons who will be staying with you and their phone numbers:
1. ______________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________________
May leave with equipment
You may leave the hospital with oxygen or a chest tube or both.
• Oxygen – You may need to go home on oxygen for a short time. Most often, you will only have the oxygen for a couple days or weeks. Your case manager or social worker will help arrange for the oxygen if you need it.
• Chest tube – You may need to go home with your chest tube still in place. If you are going to need your chest tube at home, your CNS or nurse will teach you and your caregiver about it. You will have time to practice taking care of your chest tube in the hospital. You will also have written instructions to take home.
Concerns about leaving the hospital
If you have concerns about leaving the hospital or think you may need some help planning for discharge, please call Brett Yancy-Weatherby before surgery. Brett is a case manager and his phone number is (608) 262-3554.
The information provided should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
Last Updated: 06/26/2012
Copyright © 06/19/2012 University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics Authority. All rights reserved. Produced by the Department of Nursing. HF#7369
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