subject: Heart Surgery [print this page] Heart Surgery Heart Surgery
Heart Surgery
Before the operation, you will be given a general anaesthetic. After which the hair behind the ear is shaved in an area about four inches from your hairline. The operation takes place in theatre and will take between two and five hours to complete, but normally, in straightforward cases, it will take approximately two hours. You will wake up with a large bandage (like a turban) on your head. 24 - 48 hours later this will be changed for a small dressing. There will be a pack in your ear canal which should be left for a week to protect the wound. A follow up surgery appointment in Outpatients usually takes place about one week after the operation where the ear pack is removed and the scar is checked.
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Recovery after the operation is variable but most patients feel better very quickly. Most patients do not suffer significant pain after the operation. You are required to check into the ward the day before surgery and you will remain in hospital for one to two nights after the surgery. We recommend that you take two weeks rest at home. Once your hair has grown back and your scar has healed, the only evidence of the operation will be a small bump just behind the ear.
Risks and side effects
A cochlear implant operation carries the same slight risk as other ear surgery. You should, however, be aware of the following possible side effects:-
The risks associated with having a general anaesthetic
Temporary dizziness and/or temporary disturbance of balance
Temporary increase in tinnitus
Numbness in area of scar
Change in taste sensation
A risk of infection
Facial nerve bruising: This nerve running near the site of surgery is carefully monitored throughout the operation. This ensures that bruising of the facial nerve is highly unlikely.
The possibility of implant breakdown in the future, in which case a further operation would be necessary to replace it.
Because the operation is relatively new, the long term effects of electrical stimulation are not known. The amount of electricity involved however, is minimal and during the past fifteen years in which people have received cochlear implants there have been no indications of long term damage.
If you are particularly concerned about any of the above risks you should discuss them with one of the doctors.
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Post operation
While you are on the ward one of the nursing staff will show you how to wash your face whilst at the same time protecting the scar area. You are encouraged to wait a minimum of two weeks after surgery before washing your hair. You need to take care to keep the wound dry and be very gentle with that area for the first month. After the first month, treat the wound as normal and if you are a keen swimmer you can restart then. Flying should be avoided for four weeks following surgery.
If required you will be given painkillers on the ward and some to take home.
The surgeon will generally use dissolvable stitches, which do not need to be removed. The area around the scar, including part of your ear, will be numb and sensation will slowly return over a period of six months. However, this may never return fully to normal. You may also have some swelling around your ear, which should settle within the first two to three
