What information do patients need to know
Click here to view information about helping patients prepare to visit hospital from the NHS website >>
Patient Stories
In this video, Wayne talks about his experiences as a patient suffering from vascular complications as a result of diabetes.
Pre-operative Assessment
Once you have been told you require an operation by your vascular surgeon, you will need to undergo a full pre-operative assessment to determine your fitness for an anaesthetic.
Where and when do I attend for my pre-operative assessment?
Our vascular network offers a consultant-led pre-operative assessment service for all patients undergoing vascular surgery in the region. Pre-operative assessment clinics (PAC) are held daily at Russells Hall Hospital, Monday to Friday, between the hours of 0800-18:30. This applies to all patients, including those seen at other sites in the network. At your surgical clinic appointment, you will be given an information leaflet providing you with details about your pre-operative assessment. For patients seen at Russells Hall, you may attend PAC immediately or within five working days. If you do not attend in this time, you will be sent a reminder. If you have been seen at another hospital, your surgeon will advise you when to attend.
What to expect during your appointment
You will be seen by one of our pre-operative assessment nurses, who will give you information about what to bring on the day of your surgery, where to attend and instructions for when to eat/drink/what medicines to take on the day. Most patients having vascular surgery will need to have blood tests and an electrocardiogram (tracing of your heart).
Depending on your medical history, you may need to see one of our consultant anaesthetists to discuss what your anaesthetic may involve and what to expect during and after your operation. We have specialist vascular anaesthetists in PAC who will be able to give you specific advice and answer any questions. Our aim is to ensure that you are as fit as possible before your operation. Therefore, you may require further tests or treatment after this appointment.
Useful information
You and your anaesthetic >>
Epidural or spinal anaesthetic – aftercare >>
Common events and risks in anaesthesia >>
Preparing for surgery – Fitter, Better, Sooner >>
Patient information leaflets to view and download for Vascular services
Click here to download patient leaflet >>
When an artery becomes narrowed or blocked, the circulation of blood to the muscle it is supplying becomes reduced. This can cause symptoms such as muscle pain, and tissue damage to the affected regions that are deprived of blood and oxygen.
Aortabifemoral bypass graft is the insertion of a synthetic graft from the aorta, the main artery in your body, to the femoral arteries in both groins; these are the arteries that supply the legs with blood.
Carotid endarterectomy is a surgical procedure to unblock a carotid artery. The carotid arteries are the main blood vessels that supply the head and neck. A carotid endarterectomy may be needed if one or both of your carotid arteries become narrowed because of a build-up of fatty deposits (plaque).
Critical limb ischaemia (CLI) is a severe form of occlusive arterial disease. There is reduction of blood flow to parts of the limb to such an extent that these parts of the limb are at risk of developing gangrene. CLI is associated with severe pain at rest which is often worse at night and there may also be ulcers on the leg and foot.
This leaflet tells you about the operations performed on the leg to improve the blood supply. These surgeries re-open narrowed or blocked arteries in your leg. This leaflet explains what is involved before, during and after the operation. It also explains what the possible risks are and how you can help to make your operation a success.
This leaflet tells you about the operations performed on the leg to improve the blood supply. These surgeries bypass blood around narrowed or blocked arteries in your leg.
This leaflet explains what is involved before, during and after the operation. It also explains what the possible risks are and how you can help to make your operation a success.
A leg ulcer is simply a break in the skin of the leg which allows air and bacteria to get into the underlying tissue. This is usually caused by an injury, often a minor one that breaks the skin.
In most people such an injury will heal up without difficulty within a week or two. However when there is an underlying problem the skin does not heal and the area of breakdown can increase in size. This is a chronic leg ulcer.
Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a treatment for varicose veins, also known as ClosureFast treatment. During the treatment, a catheter powered by radiofrequency energy is used to apply direct heat to the vein wall which causes it to shrink and close.
RFA has been approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, www.nice.org.uk), which assesses the safety and effectiveness of all new treatments.
Vascular ward information
A typical daily routine on B3 Vascular ward
7:00 – 7:30 – Nurses handover from the night shift to the day shift, bed changes and patient washes between 7:00 – 11:00
8:00 – 9:00 – Breakfast and morning medications. Consultant ward round commences between 8:30 – 10:30
11:00 – Refreshment
12:00 – 13:00 – Protected mealtimes
13:00 – Afternoon medication
14:00 – Refreshments
14:00 – 16:00 – Visiting times
17:00 – 18:00 – Protected mealtimes
18:00 – Medications
18:30 – 20:00 – Visiting times
19:00 – 19:30 – Nurses handover from the day shift to the night staff
20:00 – Refreshments
22:00 – Night time medication
The daily routine will always stay the same. However, the times may vary slightly. The ward routine can be affected by a number of factors including staffing levels, ward capacity and medical emergencies.
If you have any concerns, please speak to the nurse looking after you or ask to speak to the ward manager.
