Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery – patient information to assist informed consent

This RACS patient education pamphlet provides surgical information on coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. The topics discussed include:

• Anatomy and physiology of the heart
• The coronary arteries and coronary artery disease
• Coronary artery bypass grafts
• Types of bypass grafts (including internal mammary artery graft, radial artery graft and saphenous vein graft)

 CABG surgery is described for patients needing treatment of coronary artery disease, and who may be experiencing angina or are at risk of a heart attack. Anatomical illustrations depict the various types of bypass grafts that may be used.

 This leaflet can be a useful tool for patients considering undergoing surgical treatment as the benefits, risks and limitations of CABG surgery are discussed in detail. The possible complications of surgery are listed on page 4 to assist the informed-consent process.

Mi-tec publishes 31 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons patient information brochures. CABG surgery is described in plain English to assist the patients’ understanding of health information and to help patients make informed decisions. The RACS patient information brochures are printed in five-colour on high-quality A4 sheets.

Heart Valve Surgery – patient information to assist informed consent

This 6-page RACS patient education pamphlet provides information on surgery to replace a heart valve. The topics discussed include:

• Anatomy and physiology of the heart (including the structure of the aortic valve, pulmonary valve, mitral valve and tricuspid valve)
• Symptoms of heart valve disease, such as fatigue and chest pain
• Causes of heart valve disease, such as bacterial endocarditis, hypertension, coronary artery disease and congenital defects to the bicuspid aortic valve
• Heart valve replacement and the two types of artificial heart valves (mechanical valves and biological valves)
• Preoperative assessment and investigations, such as echocardiogram and CT coronary angiogram
• The possible complications of heart valve surgery

This leaflet can be a useful tool for patients requiring surgical replacement or surgical repair of a heart valve. The surgical methods outlined for heart valve replacement are:

• Open surgery, including aortic valve replacement with a biological valve and mitral valve replacement with a mechanical valve
• Minimally invasive heart valve surgery

 For certain patients with aortic stenosis, Trans-catheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) is also described.

 The surgical methods outlined for heart valve repair include:

• Repair to the mitral valve by quadrangular resection
• Annuloplasty

Mi-tec publishes 31 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons patient information brochures. Heart valve surgery is described in plain English to assist the patients’ understanding of health information and to help patients make informed decisions. The RACS patient information brochures are printed in five-colour on high-quality A4 sheets.

Surgery to Treat Heart Arrhythmias – patient information to assist informed consent

This RACS patient education pamphlet provides information on surgical ablation to treat heart arrhythmias. The topics discussed include:

• Anatomy and physiology of the heart
• An explanation of heart arrhythmias
• Atrial fibrillation and its risks (such as stroke, congestive heart failure and heart attack)
• Diagnosis of heart arrhythmias

This leaflet can be a useful tool for patients as the surgical ablation procedure is described in detail. Surgical ablation is also described for patients that may be undergoing surgery for other heart problems, such as coronary artery disease or heart valve disease. The surgical methods outlined include:

• Surgical ablation with open heart surgery
• Surgical ablation with minimally invasive mitral valve surgery
• Minimally invasive surgical cardiac ablation
• Hybrid ablation procedure

The possible complications of open heart surgery are listed on to assist the informed-consent process. The specific risks of surgical ablation are also listed, including fluid retention, pericarditis and unusual heart rhythms following surgery.

Mi-tec publishes 31 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons patient information brochures. Surgery to treat heart arrhythmias is described in plain English to assist the patients’ understanding of health information and to help patients make informed decisions. The RACS patient information brochures are printed in five-colour on high-quality A4 sheets.