Hospital Information

  • RNSH Public Hospital

    For procedures in the cardiac catheter laboratory (angiograms, right heart catheters, planned stenting procedures) present to Day of Surgery Admissions on level 4 via the orange lifts where you will be checked in.

    Most patients will be discharged the same day from the Surgical Short Stay Unit (SSSU) which is located on level 4 near the orange lifts.

    The cardiology ward and CCU are on ward 6D (level 6) also near the orange lifts.

    Booking Unit: (02) 9463 2430

    Ward 6D: (02) 9463 2640

    Parking & Hospital Map

  • North Shore Private Hospital

    The staff will contact you to confirm your admission time and any pre-operative instructions on the day before the procedure - often not until around 4pm. Most procedures are done at the Interventional Procedure Centre (IPC) which is a North Shore Private facility located within Royal North Shore (Public) Hospital. To get to the IPC go to level 4 using the yellow lifts in the public hospital and proceed through the Diagonstic Cardiology following the signs for IPC to find reception.

    Cardiac Coordinator (day): (02) 8425 3850

    After Hours Manager: (02) 8425 3178

    IPC: (02) 9926 4470

    Cardiac Services Info

General Pre & Post-Procedural Information

Unlike other surgical procedures, most cardiac procedures are done on uninterrupted blood thinning medications, particularly aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), or ticagrelor (Brillenta). Do not stop these tablets prior to your procedure unless your cardiologist advises you to do so.

Generally, patients are requested to fast (not eat or drink anything) from midnight the night before the procedure. If you forget and have breakfast, please advise the admission staff of this when you arrive. Sips of water with tablets are fine.

Procedures in the cardiac catheter laboratory are done under conscious, twilight sedation, and generally patients are able to be discharged once they have been monitored for four hours after the procedure is complete.

For the 24 hours after the procedure, be particularly mindful to limit activity and allow the access site (usually wrist or groin) to heal. Keep any dressings applied dry for 24-48 hours unless advised otherwise. If there is any oozing from an access site, apply firm pressure for 15 minutes. If this does not settle the bleeding down, or if there is a large painful lump under the skin, please attend the emergency department for review.

There are helpful explanations of procedures available on the North Shore Private Hospital website which review the various types of cardiac procedures; under the “Angiogram” section there is a helpful video reviewing what a coronary angiogram is.