CABG (coronary artery bypass graft) - Preparing for a coronary artery bypass graft

Before going into hospital to have a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), it is a good idea to make some preparations.

You may find the advice below useful:

Get informed – Find out as much as you can about what is involved in your operation. Your hospital may provide written information.
Arrange help – Line up a friend or relative to help you at home for a week or two after coming home from hospital.
Sort out transport – Arrange for either a friend, a relative or a taxi to take you to and from the hospital.
Prepare your home – Before you go for your operation, put your TV remote control, radio, telephone, medications, tissues, address book and glasses on a table next to where you will spend most of your time when you come out of hospital.
Stock up – Get in a stock of food that is easy to prepare (for example, frozen ready meals, cans, and staples such as rice and pasta) or prepare your own dishes to freeze and reheat during your recovery.
Clean up – Before going into hospital, have a good long bath or shower, cut your nails (don’t forget to take off any nail polish) and wash your hair. Put on freshly washed clothes. This helps prevent unwanted bacteria coming into hospital, which can increase your risk of developing complications.

Pre-admission assessment

Before surgery, you will attend a pre-admission clinic, where you will be seen by a member of the team who will be looking after you in hospital.

At this clinic, you will have a physical examination and be asked for details of your medical history. You may also have some tests such as a chest X-ray, blood tests and an electrocardiogram (ECG). During an ECG small electrodes are put on your arms, legs and chest to record the electrical signals produced by your heart.

You will usually be told more about the operation during your visit to the pre-admission clinic. This is a good time to ask any questions you have about the procedure, although you can discuss any concerns at any time.

While at the pre-admission clinic, you will also be asked:

whether you are taking any tablets or other types of medication – it helps if you bring details with you of anything you are taking (perhaps bring the packaging with you)
about previous anaesthetics you have had, and whether you had any problems with these (such as feeling sick)
whether you are allergic to anything

You will be advised to stop smoking if you smoke. This is because smoking increases your chances of a serious chest infection and slows down the time your wounds will take to heal. Smoking can also increase your risk of blood clots.

What should I take into hospital?

When getting ready for your stay in hospital, you may wish to pack:

a change of nightclothes and a dressing gown
some comfortable shoes or slippers (preferably a pair that are easily adjustable, as your feet may temporarily swell after the operation)
something comfortable and easy to wear during the day
toiletries
medication that you normally take
books, magazines, crosswords and other things to help pass the time during your recovery
healthy snacks for between meals
your address book and important phone numbers

Different hospitals tend to have different rules concerning personal electronic equipment. You may want to check with your hospital about their policy on the use of mobile phones, MP3 players, laptops and tablets during your hospital stay.

Although you will have a bedside locker for your personal belongings, it's a good idea to avoid taking any unnecessary valuables into hospital.

Read more advice about preparing for surgery and going into hospital.