After Heart Surgery: In the Hospital

After heart surgery, the patient will be moved from the operating room to the CVICU (Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit) where specialized staff will closely monitor the patient.  The patient remains on a monitoring system that closely evaluates the heart rate, rhythm, and vital signs.  Medications will be given to control for pain, nausea, and constipation.  Your pain will be tightly controlled, and you should not feel significant pain after surgery.  If you feel pain, you should speak with your caregiver to obtain more medication to keep you comfortable.  A chest tube is inserted to ensure that any blood that forms in the heart and lung cavity is drained.  This ensures your lungs have enough room to expand for breathing, and will be removed when the output from the chest cavity has decreased to a small amount.  Your caregiver will also give you instructions on deep-breathing exercises.  These exercises ensure that your lungs stay expanded to provide for adequate breathing.  Your caregiver will also start a diet that gradually increases from ice chips to clear liquids to a full solid diet.

You are encouraged to start activity after your surgery.  Physical activity helps your body return to normal, and prevents complications including blood clots which can form in the legs.  Your staff will also place devices on your legs that squeeze your legs and prevent clots from forming.  Light activity may start around 1 day after your operation.  You may work with a physical therapist, who will give you specific exercises you can perform and instructions for how much activity to attempt.