1. Transition to ICU or CCU:
- Post-surgery, you’ll be moved to an intensive care unit (ICU), cardiac care unit (CCU), or similar, where your recovery will be closely monitored. These areas are equipped with the resources to ensure your safety and well-being in the immediate aftermath of surgery.
- Rehabilitation starts as soon as possible. Nurses and medical staff will begin encouraging you to take small steps: sitting up in bed, moving to a chair, and eventually walking around the unit. Each of these tasks helps rebuild strength and mobility.
2. Step-down Unit:
- Once you’re stable enough and no longer require constant monitoring, you will be transferred to a step-down unit (also known as the “floor”). This is a less intensive area, typically a cardiac unit, where the level of care is still specialized, but the nurse-to-patient ratio is lower compared to the ICU.
- In this unit, nurses may have a broader range of patients (often 4-6 others), so you won’t have as frequent check-ins. But you’ll still receive the care you need while continuing your recovery process.
3. Continued Physical and Occupational Therapy:
- Physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT) will continue in the step-down unit. These visits help strengthen your body and teach you the functional skills you’ll need for day-to-day life after surgery. Tasks like walking, standing up and sitting down, and walking up stairs are part of the process.
- These milestones are key indicators of your recovery. Completing these tasks will show that you’re ready for discharge.
4. LVAD Education and Training:
- One of the most important parts of your hospital recovery is learning about the LVAD system. VAD coordinators will be your main resource, teaching you how to manage your LVAD and troubleshoot problems if they arise.
- Key areas of training include:
- Understanding the alarms: You’ll need to know what each alarm means and how to respond.
- Emergency procedures: How to react if something goes wrong, like a low battery or malfunction.
- Caretaker education: Your caretaker (or a family member) will learn how to care for your LVAD, including changing dressings and ensuring the device remains in optimal condition. Some hospitals may also allow you to learn how to change your dressing, empowering you to be more involved in your care.
- Backup device knowledge: You will be taught how to switch to your backup LVAD device if necessary, ensuring you always have a functioning unit.
5. Preparing for Discharge:
- As your recovery progresses, you’ll be required to demonstrate your ability to perform certain activities independently or with minimal assistance. These include:
- Walking around the unit
- Standing up and sitting down independently
- Climbing a flight of stairs
- Once you’ve completed these tasks successfully and shown that you’re ready for life at home, your medical team will prepare you for discharge. They will ensure you’re comfortable with your LVAD and the responsibilities that come with it.
6. Overpreparation for Success:
- The medical team’s goal is to overprepare you. They want to make sure that, when you leave the hospital, you feel equipped to handle life with your LVAD and react effectively in an emergency.
- The VAD coordinators will work tirelessly to ensure you feel confident in managing your LVAD, knowing how to handle minor issues, and understanding the systems that keep you safe and healthy.
This process is gradual, but with each small step, you are one step closer to returning home, stronger, and more independent. Your hospital team is there to guide you and ensure that, when you leave, you are fully prepared for the next chapter in your recovery.