Day of Surgery
Please arrive two hours before the time of surgery (unless told otherwise) at Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Galter Pavilion, 201 E. Huron St. Parking is available at the garage located across from the hospital facility at 222 E. Huron St. Please bring your ticket with you for parking validation.
Stop at the reception desk in the main lobby of the Galter Pavilion, where your family can check in and obtain visitor passes. Then go to the fifth floor registration desk in the Same Day Surgery Unit.
When you first arrive at the registration desk, your information will be checked and updated as needed. You will be directed to the waiting area until called by the nurse. From the fifth floor, you will go to the seventh floor preoperative (pre-op) room.
Once in the pre-op room, a nurse will review your medical history, take your temperature, blood pressure, and pulse and insert an intravenous line (into the vein) in your arm or hand.
Your anesthesiologist will talk with you prior to surgery. Be sure to tell the anesthesiologist about any crowns, bridges, or loose teeth so extra care can be taken. You also may be visited by a surgical resident or fellow. During this time your family can relax in the waiting area on the seventh floor. They will be able to visit you in the pre-op room once the nurse has you prepared for surgery. You may have two adult visitors at one time.
The wait time before surgery is about two hours. If your wait is extended for any reason, your nurse will provide updates.
When you are in the operating room, your family will be shown to the waiting room on the seventh floor. Family members should check in with the volunteer stationed in that area, who will provide updates during your surgery.
Recovering from Heart Surgery provides more detailed information about your hospital stay, homecare guidelines, and long-term follow-up care.
Contact
For more information regarding mitral valve disease and the treatments available, please contact the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at (866) 662-8467, or request an appointment online.
Visit the Northwestern Memorial Hospital's Health Learning Center and Alberto Culver Women's Health Learning Center. These state-of-the-art health information libraries are among the largest hospital-based learning facilities of their kind. For more information call (312) 926-5465.
Mitral Valve Surgery
Before Surgery
Day before Surgery
Day of Surgery
During Surgery
After Surgery
Review Date: 08/07
