Discharge home after having vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)

Introduction

Your healthcare team feel that you are ready to go home. This advice has been designed to give you all the information you need to take home with you. Please ask the staff if you have any questions.

Personal identification information

Your health speciality for ongoing outpatient care is Neurology.

Your health speciality for wound care is Neurosurgery.

The consultant for your operation is:

Your NHS number is:

Your Sheffield Children’s number is:

Medical device

Your medical device is called a Vagal Nerve Stimulator (VNS).

Implant details:

It was inserted on:

And is set at:

Your setting will be reviewed by the Neurology service at Ryegate, during your Ryegate outpatient’s appointment.

VNS Discharge checklist

Wound checked and care discussed
ROS planned and discussed
Ryegate Outpatient appointment (OPA) booked
Decolonisation discussed and supplies given
Magnets sent home
Manufactures booklet
Neurology CNS aware of discharge
Follow-up booked and discussed
My ticket home completed
Other professionals informed
Medical discharge
Nursing discharge

Pain relief

It is common to require some pain relief after an operation. Please follow the advice given at discharge. The requirement for pain relief should reduce as you recover. If more pain relief is needed please call Ward 5 for advice.

Decolonisation

Your decolonisation plan needs to continue at home.

Please use washes and gel on the days below.

Special precautions

• You can attend school or nursery when:
• You can go swimming when:
• You can play sport when:

Op note and ward round plan for follow up

Wound care
When: Requested
With who:

Ryegate
When: Requested
With who:

Your appointments

Wound care

Your stitches are absorbable

• Absorbable stitches need to be kept dry for 7 days.
• It is then important to wash the wound.

Your stitches are non-absorbable

• Non absorbable stitches need to be removed.
• Keep the wound dry until the stitches are removed.

Please keep your wound dry until:

You have stitches or clips that need to be removed on

Please attend on to have them removed.

Please change your dressings:

Please keep the head bandage on until:

Please don’t swim until all wounds are completely healed.

Signs of infection

If you notice any of the below please contact Ward 5 directly on 0114 271 7758

• Redness
• Swelling
• Pus or fluid leak
• Wound hot
• Wound pain
• A high temperature

If you notice any remaining stitches after 3 weeks please contact the ward to have them removed.

Other professionals involved in your care

Liz Hinde and Jan Hardy – Clinical Nurse Specialists in hydrocephalus
0114 305 3214

John Preston – Advanced Nurse Practitioner
0114 271 7758