Planning for Your Surgery
Preparation
During your consultation with one of our heart surgeons, your surgical procedure will be discussed in detail with you and your family. Information about the possible need for blood transfusions will also be provided. You will be advised about the need to stop aspirin or any other blood thinners prior to surgery. For diabetic patients on Glucophage, this medication must be stopped for 48 hours prior to your operation. You will be asked to obtain pre-operative lab work, an electrocardiogram and a chest x-ray the day before surgery and will be told about the admitting procedure the night prior to surgery. You will be given a folder of written information and will have an opportunity to see a video on heart surgery.Admission
During the evening of admission, you will be given a shower with special soap followed by a sleeping medication to aid in promoting rest. If your operation is scheduled at 7 a.m., your family should arrive at the hospital by 6 a.m. to see you before surgery. They will be allowed to accompany you to the holding room where you meet the anesthesiologist.During Surgery
As you are taken to the operating room, your family will be directed to the Cardiac Surgery Waiting Room. During surgery, nurses will deliver several messages, updating your family as the progress of the operation.Hospital Recovery
When surgery is completed your surgeon will talk to your family members and in a short period of time, your family will be allowed to go into the Recovery Area to see you for the first time. You will stay in the recovery area for one to two days and from there will go to the cardiac monitoring area where your activity will be gradually progressed. Your hospital stay will usually be four to five days.Discharge
Prior to discharge, verbal and written instructions will be given for your recovery at home. The medications you should take after discharge will be written on the discharge sheet and prescriptions will be given to you for those medications, newly prescribed. You will be advised to set up appointments to see your surgeon, your cardiologist and your primary care physician. After discharge, you should receive a follow up phone call from our office asking about your progress. This will afford you an additional opportunity to discuss any questions or concerns you may have regarding your recovery.Home Recovery
Recovery from heart surgery takes time. Most people require six to eight weeks before feeling the sense of being "back to normal". We encourage our patients to begin walking short distances outdoors within a few days of discharge. It is important to remember, however, that no heavy lifting should be attempted. This activity could impair the healing of the breastbone which takes about three months to completely mend. A well balanced diet is encouraged during the recovery period to promote healing and strength. It is advisable to balance periods of activity with time for rest. Mood swings following heart surgery are not unusual. It is important to be aware that this is part of the recovery progress and will usually disappear as times goes on. Your physicians are committed to assisting you in developing a lifestyle that will improve your health and reduce your risk of further coronary artery disease.Back to Beginning: The Normal Heart