Preparing at home for port implantation or removal

GOING HOME AFTER THE PROCEDURE

Although you can drive to the Institute, for the journey home you need the help of an adult who will do the driving. A person who has been put to sleep for a procedure must not drive that day. They also should not go home by public transport, even accompanied by an adult.

EATING AND DRINKING

The time in the operating room is about 45 minutes. Before any procedure that alters consciousness you should be fasting. Fasting does not mean that you must not eat but may drink. A fasting stomach is, in other words, an empty one, containing neither solid food nor liquid. How long you need to go without solid food and liquids is set by each place where anaesthesia is given. For our purposes it is enough to go without food and drink for 4 hours before the anaesthesia starts; no longer is needed. Within those four hours you may drink half a glass of your favourite drink once, up to two hours before the procedure.

Suppose we arrange to meet at 8:00 in the Admissions Room: in that case you can have a “night-time” breakfast until 4:00 and drink half a glass of your favourite drink until 6:00.
Suppose we arrange to meet at 12:00 in the Admissions Room: in that case you can quite legitimately have breakfast until 8:00 and have one drink until 10:00. Of course, breakfast on the day of the procedure is not an all-inclusive breakfast, lunch and dinner, just something more modest.

I would bring at least something to drink from home, or a drink and a sandwich: after the procedure, when you are getting ready to leave, you will be able to drink and eat something, but you need to have something with you.

CLOTHING

Please bring light indoor shoes from home.
The Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine provides the latest collection of disposable two-piece non-woven outfits in any colour you like, as long as it is blue. So there is no need to bring pyjamas.

PREPARING THE AREA OF THE OPERATION

As before any procedure, the area to be operated on must be washed thoroughly with a sponge.

Gentlemen, even those who are not particularly “hairy”, need to prepare the skin of the chest, usually on the right side, by shaving a strip about 12 cm wide along the collarbone, from the breastbone to the shoulder. This is where the dressing will be stuck, and it will not protect the skin incision if it is stuck to hairs standing up rather than to the skin.

SICK LEAVE

If you need a sick note, your employer’s name and tax identification number (NIP) will be needed.