What to Expect After Heart Surgery

Immediately after heart surgery you will be transported to the intensive care unit. You will still have the endotracheal (breathing) tube in your throat. You will not yet be awake. Once in the icu the nurse will settle you in and monitor your vital signs. You will be on a medicine that will keep you sedated and allow you to wake up slowly. You will be closely observed for any heart rhythm issues, bleeding, and to make sure your blood pressure is stable. Your breathing will be observed and you will be observed for readiness for extubation (taking out the breathing tube). An average of four to five hours will pass before the breathing tube is removed. You will still have the iv lines in your neck, arterial line in your wrist, foley catheter in your bladder, and other monitors. You will have two or three tubes draining any fluid from around your heart and lungs (chest tubes).

Over the course of your hospitalization more tubes and monitors will be removed and your activity will increase in a stepwise fashion. You can plan on about a week in the hospital with one to two days in the ICU.

Your medications will be monitored and adjusted prior to your going home. Physical therapy will help evaluate if you are safe to go home or require further care such as a skilled nursing facility or rehabilitation hospital. You should have full instructions prior to discharge.

Want to know more?
https://ctsurgerypatients.org/before-during-and-after-surgery/after-heart-surgery