Inspire, Spring 2011

“Get this patient to the ER!” “I need this report — STAT!” “Get me his blood work and order an EKG!” What do patients and family members want to know before a heart procedure? The most common question people ask is, “How long is the surgery?” The length of the surgery is not at the top of my list of potential concerns, but patients and family members want to know. Of course, length of surgery depends on the specific procedure, but the most common answer to that question is four hours. Some procedures, such as bypass surgery, can be as quick as three hours, while other procedures involving the aorta can take up to 12 hours. What is the emotional state of a person who is about to undergo major surgery? About half of my patients are resigned to the idea of surgery — in other words, they are as ready as they will ever be. The other half tend to be more concerned and start expressing worries about getting finances in order and wrapping up other details at home. I try to refocus these patients on the priority of the moment, which is getting them treated and on the road to recovery. What should patients and family members expect after surgery? Family members usually have an opportunity to see the patient after surgery, often before he or she is completely awake. Seeing a loved one connected to tubes, wires, and monitoring equipment can be scary and brings many people to tears. I try to prepare people for this. The equipment is removed within 12–24 hours after surgery. Then, patients are led through the first steps toward recovery, which include walking around, coughing, and taking deep breaths. Often, people don’t want to walk around because they have pain and may feel sick, but getting up and moving is important for recovery. In addition, after a surgical procedure On television and in the movies, men and women in white coats and blue scrubs charge around hospital hallways barking orders and acronyms at the top of their lungs. Their energy draws you into the drama, and you become invested in the outcomes of fake surgical procedures and actors pretending to be patients. But in reality, hospitals are the setting for true stories of men, women, and children who are quietly dealing with their own mortality and need compassionate treatment for serious medical conditions. A nurse practitioner at the Ross Heart Hospital, part of The Ohio State University Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio, Tom Lawson ’01 provides care for cardiac patients before and after they undergo heart surgery. In Tom’s world, heart surgery is commonplace, but he knows that many of his patients are approaching the procedure with fear and uncertainty. So he is committed to treating his patients with the care they deserve. Inspire interviewed Tom about the circumstances that patients and their families face. He offered insights on heart surgery and recovery — perspectives that transcend what we’ve learned from TV medical dramas, revealing a richer understanding of the physical and emotional journeys heart patients and their families take. by Hohna Hartley Getting to the of It 22 spring 2011