Patient's Guide to Heart Transplant Surgery

Isolation

After surgery, you take medication to prevent rejection. A side effect of this medication is a lowering of your body's ability to fight off infections. To protect you from infections of other patients, staff, and visitors, you will be in a room by yourself during the first few days after surgery. All persons entering your room must wash their hands well; wear a mask and gloves.

After a week or ten days, you may be moved to another area of the hospital called the Cardiothoracic Unit next to the ICU. If you go outside your room, you will need to wear a mask and gloves to avoid picking up germs that could cause an infection. Please avoid any other patients who have infections.

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