C. S. Mott Children's Hospital
For Parents
Surgery
If the patient undergoes an operation during hospitalization, he/she will likely return to the Pediatric Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (PCTU) with some or all of the following:
- Chest tubes to drain any fluid that collects around the heart or lungs
- External pacer wires that provide an opportunity to pace the heart as necessary
- Intra-cardiac and intra-arterial catheters for pressure monitoring
- Intravenous catheters for medications and blood draws
- Mechanical ventilator to provide breathing support
- Medicines to support the patient’s blood pressure
- Pain and sedation medications to provide comfort
- Urinary catheter to monitor the urine output
When a patient returns to the PCTU from the operating room, the patient’s bed space and any adjacent bed spaces will be unavailable for visitation for approximately one hour or longer if that patient requires additional stabilization. Our patients come back directly to the intensive care unit from the operating room without spending any time in the recovery room. In order to assure patient safety, we require this initial time to get report, stabilize the patient, obtain initial tests, and double-check all of the indwelling catheters, medications and ventilator settings.
What to expect after surgery
The initial phase of recovery takes place in the Pediatric Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit.
Once the medical team determines that the patient’s medical condition has improved enough to allow transfer from the PCTU, they will be transferred to 5 East General Care.
If the patient is stable enough to be out of the PCTU but is not quite ready for General Care, they will be transferred to 5 East Moderate Care.
If the patient is ready for transfer but no bed is available on the floor, the patient may remain in the PCTU and be cared for similarly to a General Care patient (e.g., intravenous catheters will be removed if they are not needed, monitors may be disconnected and parents will be invited to assume a more active role in their child’s care).
The majority of the discharge teaching and testing as well as the medication prescriptions and outpatient appointments will be arranged on 5 East Mott.
Pediatric Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit
The PCTU (POD A) is a separate 15-bed facility currently located on the fifth floor in the C. S. Mott Children’s Hospital at the University of Michigan. The PCTU is a state-of-the-art medical and surgical intensive care unit dedicated to the management of infants, children and young adults with congenital heart disease or heart disease acquired during childhood.
The PCTU is an area of constant activity with critically ill patients, where our number one priority is to provide safe and effective patient care. In addition, we strive to work with our families in order to provide a comforting and supportive environment.
Bed space
The bed space occupied by a patient may change from time to time due to patient and/or staff needs. Most of our patients require their own nurse but occasionally are well enough share a nurse with another patient. Rooms typically have one, two or three patients. We have a limited number of private rooms and assign these based on many factors, including severity of condition; private rooms are not available upon request.
Cell phones and wireless computers
Cell phones and wireless computers may not be used in the PCTU. These items may interfere with some of our sophisticated patient monitoring devices.
Computer
There is a computer available for family use in a conference room outside of the PCTU.
Invasive procedures
Because the PCTU is a medical and surgical intensive care unit, various invasive procedures routinely occur at the patient’s bedside. Most of these procedures require sterility and in some cases may be urgent. In order to provide the highest quality and safest care for our patients, families will be asked to step out of the unit during procedures. Due to our lack of private rooms, families of patients in adjacent beds also will be asked to step out of the room during the procedure.
Length of stay
The patient’s length of stay in the PCTU could last a few days or many weeks, depending on the complexity of the medical condition and possible interventions.
A team meeting, including the medical team and the family, is planned for patients exceeding a two-week admission in the PCTU. These meetings serve as an opportunity to discuss the patient’s short- and long-term goals, and to discuss the patient’s current medical status and treatment plan. These team meetings continue on a bi-weekly schedule until the patient is transferred out of PCTU.
Medical rounds
Medical rounds typically occur between 7-8:30 a.m. and 5-6 p.m. daily during the week, and 7:30-9 a.m. on weekends. During rounds, health care team members discuss the patient’s medical status and form a treatment plan for the day.
Parents or immediate family members are welcome to be present during rounds but should wait to ask questions until after rounds are completed on all patients.
If family members are unavailable during rounds, members of the medical team will be available to answer questions and discuss the treatment plan throughout the day and evening.
While the medical team will make every effort to provide families with timely updates and daily treatment plans, please recognize that there may be rapid changes in a patient’s clinical status, which could alter the original plan.
Personal comfort items
Although bedside space is limited, we encourage you to bring in favorite stuffed animals, blankets, music boxes or pictures that your child may find comforting during their hospitalization. Please label all personal property with the patient’s name to prevent items from being misplaced. Not permitted: Potted plants, flowers and latex balloons.
Visitors
Please call the unit clerk at 734-764-0671 before entering the PCTU so that we may know to expect you.
Parents and families are welcome in the PCTU 24 hours a day, with the exception of the time necessary for nursing report and safety checks. These times are: 7-8 a.m., 3-4 p.m., 7-8 p.m. and 11-12 a.m., daily.
To assure patient safety and confidentiality, visitors are limited to two people at a time.
Siblings of any age are welcome, provided children ages 14 and under receive a health screen prior to visiting. This is to protect the patients from exposure to infectious childhood illnesses.
Caring for Your Child has more information on medications, treatments, home care and other topics of interest to parents of children with congenital heart issues.