Recovering from Heart Surgery

It is important for the patient to know what to expect during a normal recovery and what issues are important to discuss with his physician.

What Care is Needed for the Incision?

• Clean incisions daily with soap (non-deodorant or non-perfume) and water.
• Do not cover incisions with anything other than clothes. If there is drainage, a loose, gauze-type bandage can be placed over it.
• Creams, ointments, or powders should not be applied for 6-8 weeks.
• After 6-8 weeks when the scars are fully healed rub Vaseline, lanolin, vitamin E, or similar creams on the scars to help soften and decrease the scarring. Check with the surgeon first.
• Examine incisions twice a day. Report any significant changes such as redness, swelling, or drainage.
• Temperature should be taken twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Report any temperatures above 100 degrees to the surgeon.
• Keep the graft leg elevated when sitting to prevent swelling in the foot and ankle.
• Keep a daily diary of temperature, weight, appearance of incisions, and distance walked each day.
• Take pain medications as prescribed to help decrease discomfort and allow more restful and healing sleep.

What Symptoms Can be Expected

• Ankle swelling due to the removal of leg veins may last for months.
• Tingling, numbness, burning, or itchiness around incisions will gradually lessen with time.
• Tender spots on the chest may be noted along side the incision and are common after surgery.
• Some deep muscle aches and soreness are common if mammary artery was used. This may last for some months.
• Chest discomfort that is a result of the surgery is described as pulling, sharp, aching or soreness. It often occurs with movement, but seldom increases with activity or decreases with rest, and is not associated with shortness of breath.
• Incisional discomfort in the chest may persist for 2-3 months or longer.
• Until the breast bone heals completely, the patient may feel a slight motion or clicking with sneezing, coughing, deep breathing or changes of position. If this continues beyond 2 months, the patient should notify his surgeon.
• Back, neck and low shoulder pain often occurs after surgery because of the many hours on the surgical table. This discomfort can be relieved with a heating pad set on low for 10 to 15 minutes, 3 to 4 times a day. Do not use on incisional areas. Heating pads should not be used by diabetic patients.

When Should the Doctor be Called?

• Angina pain: notify the cardiologist.
  • Pain is described as the same type of pain experienced prior to surgery
  • It is different from the pain resulting from surgery
  • It is described as heaviness, pressure, or squeezing that tends to increase with activity and decrease with rest
• Drainage, increased redness or swelling in incisions: notify surgeon.
• Movement/clicking in the breast bone after 2 months: notify surgeon.