The post-operative period
After your child has transplant surgery, he goes directly to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Approximately one hour after he arrives in the PICU, you will be able to come into his room to see him. He will be on a medication called Pavulon, which makes him unable to move. Along with this medication, he is given pain medication and sedation to keep him comfortable. He will have several IV's, special tubes in his chest, and a breathing tube in his mouth. The nurse in the PICU will explain all his monitors and tubes when you see him for the first time.
When in the PICU:
- Your child will be in a special isolation room to protect him from infection throughout his stay in the hospital. Before you enter his room, you will be asked to wash your hands, wear a mask, gown, hat and gloves. Hand washing is the most important way to protect your child from infection after surgery.
- The breathing tube will stay in until he is strong enough and awake enough to breathe on his own. Keeping him sleepy and comfortable decreases the work load of the heart during the first one to three days after surgery. Not long after the breathing tube comes out, he will be able to eat and drink again.
- Your child will be on many IV medications while in the PICU. All of these medications will be eventually changed to oral doses when he begins to eat and drink.
A typical stay in the PICU is one week, and during that time:
- Your child will have a nurse that is constantly monitoring him. The nurses will encourage you to participate in your child's care as much as you feel comfortable with.
- Visiting hours for healthy parents/guardians are seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Due to the amount of equipment and limited space, we ask that only two people be at the bedside at any one time. Anyone who has been exposed to communicable diseases or who is ill (colds, flu, etc.) cannot visit the PICU. Read more visitor information.
- Due to limited space and activity of the unit, we do not allow parents to sleep at the bedside. We can however, provide one cot per family to sleep in the parent waiting area.
When the transplant team feels that your child is ready, he will be transferred to the cardiovascular-thoracic inpatient floor. During his stay there, any remaining tubes and IVs will be removed. He will begin to walk about the room and participate in activities to increase his strength with the help of a physical therapist. The nurses on the floor and the transplant team will get your family ready to go home. With their help, you will learn how to take care of him at home. If all goes well, he should go home after two to three weeks.