Open
heart surgery is any surgery where the chest is opened and surgery
is performed on the heart. The term "open" refers to the chest,
not the heart itself, which may or may not be opened depending
on the type of surgery. Open heart surgery includes surgery on
the heart muscle, valves, arteries, or other structures.
Before your surgery it is normal to feel anxious,
afraid, or nervous, but be happy that surgery is an option for
you. At this time, your health care provider will be scheduling
a hospital ARTC visit to include testing such as lab work, EKG,
chest x-ray, and a visit by the anesthesiologist. The total time
needed for this visit will be about three hours.
You will also want to watch your pre-op video,
which will help you address any questions and concerns you may
have for your physician. As expected for any surgical procedure,
you will want to discuss your advanced directives and complete
your health history questionnaire during an office visit with
your surgeon and cardiothoracic team.
Make sure that you take your medications as
directed, avoiding any over-the-counter medicines without consulting
your cardiothoracic team. Now would also be a good time to get
a scale and thermometer for your home so you will be able to monitor
your weight and check for fever.
The night before surgery, you will want to
identify a spokesperson for you and your family to relay information
to other family members. Make sure you bathe or shower with an
antibacterial soap, and take no food or liquids after midnight.
Upon arriving for the surgery, your physician may
offer you a shot before surgery to relax you. Your chest and legs
will be shaved if necessary, and you and your family will have
an opportunity to have any last minute questions answered. A Certified
Anesthesiologist will administer the anesthesia and insert the
IV lines and urinary catheter after you fall asleep.
Upon waking up from your surgery, you will
probably feel a bit groggy, or sleepy from the anesthesia. You
will also feel a bit overwhelmed and unable to move. This is normal,
and it is important to stay relaxed and to listen to your health
care provider, as they will give you simple commands to help you
wake up completely, allowing them to remove the breathing tube.
Once the breathing tube is removed your nurse
will gently guide you through what to do. Over the next few days,
you will feel some expected discomfort around the incisions. Your family will
be allowed to see you at this point, and will be able to ask your
health care provider questions. Your IV, catheter, and chest tubes
will be removed at this time, and you may be given an oxygen mask
to help you breathe easier.
You will want to resume nutrition, starting
first with ice chips, then liquids, then advancing to a regular
diet as tolerated. You will learn how to do regular breathing
exercises to keep your lungs healthy. It is important that you
continue to ask questions and communicate any needs to your health
care provider, as being comfortable will promote a faster recovery.
You will now play an important role in staying
healthy. Be sure to keep all appointments for exams and follow-up
tests. Follow your instructions, don't hesitate to talk about
your concerns, and as always, if you have any questions about
your health, be sure to ask your physician.
Open
heart surgery is any surgery where the chest is opened and surgery
is performed on the heart. The term "open" refers to the chest,
not the heart itself, which may or may not be opened depending
on the type of surgery. Open heart surgery includes surgery on
the heart muscle, valves, arteries, or other structures.