During Surgery

Monitoring and Life Support Equipment
Endotracheal Tube
After you are asleep, a breathing tube will be placed through your mouth and down into your windpipe. The tube is then connected to a ventilator (breathing machine). The ventilator does the work of breathing for you while you are asleep. The breathing tube will be removed in the CVCU unit as soon as you are fully awake and able to breathe without the help of the ventilator.

Arterial Line
An arterial line is a catheter, similar to an IV that is placed into the radial artery at the wrist. It is used to continuously monitor your blood pressure and to draw blood samples for lab work.

Pulmonary Artery Catheter
A catheter that is placed into a vein in the neck to measure pressures and the pumping ability of the heart.

Cardiac Monitor
Monitors your heart rate and rhythm continuously.

Chest Tube
A plastic tube that is placed in through your chest cavity during surgery and attaches to a drainage system.  It is used for draining fluids from your chest

Temporary Pacemaker Wires
Temporary pacemaker wires are slender wires that are placed onto the surface of your heart during surgery. The ends of the wires come up through the skin and can then be attached to a pacemaker, if needed. The wires are usually removed three days after surgery.

Foley Catheter
A Foley catheter is a small soft tube that is placed through the urethra into your bladder after you are asleep to collect urine.

Gastric Tube
A gastric tube will be inserted after you are asleep, through your nose or mouth and down into your stomach to prevent vomiting. As you recover these IV lines and drainage tubes will be removed.

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