Trent Cardiac Centre

The Trent Cardiac Centre opened is home to:

  • Two catheter laboratories to view and treat artery and heart chamber problems
  • Echocardiography facilities, using sonic imaging via the oesophagus, and under stress
  • Two cardiac operating theatres
  • Dedicated intensive care and high dependency units
  • Specialist surgical wards

Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU)/High Dependency Unit (HDU)

Most patients we see are planned cases, however, around 5% of our patients are emergency admissions.

The average length of stay is 48-hours after surgery. Some patients are transferred to Morris Ward earlier but some may require a longer stay with us on CICU/CHDU.

 

Visiting times

  • Due to the nature of the surgery the patients require a high degree of monitoring and support from the nursing team and are mainly nursed either on a one-to-one or one-to-two nurse/patient ratio.
  • Visiting times are therefore restricted on CICU/CHDU to the following times: 11.30am-1.30pm and 2.30pm-8pm.
  • If your relative/partner is unwell and you need to stay we have rooms you can use. Please ask staff for more information.
  • The number of visitors is restricted to two per bed space. Other visitors can wait in the waiting room.
  • Please do not visit if you have recently been unwell.
  • Children are welcome to visit but may find the experience upsetting. Whilst on the unit children remain the sole responsibility of their parents.

Cardiac Catheter Labs

Within the Trent Cardiac Centre two cath labs operate seven days a week to provide an emergency percutaneous intervention service. Two additional cardiac catheter laboratories are based in the radiology department for pacing, electrophysiology and diagnostic coronary work.

Procedures include:

  • routine and emergency invasive cardiology procedures such as angioplasty and stenting
  • angiograms/pacemakers etc
  • transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in conjunction with cardiac surgery

Cardiac Theatres

Cardiac theatres are located at the rear of the Coronary Intensive Care Unit (CICU) and carry out planned procedures Monday to Friday as well as any emergency cases.

The medical teams are backed up by a large team of nurses, operating department practitioners, surgical assistants and clinical perfusionists.

The main procedures carried out by the team include:

  • coronary artery bypass grafts either 'ON Bypass' or 'OPCABS' - without the bypass machine
  • cardiac valve surgery or repair - Aortic or Mitral are the most common
  • aortic anuerysm and dissection repair
  • transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) - in conjunction with cardiology