What to Expect After Cardiac Surgery

Heart surgery usually takes 4-6 hours, and sometimes longer.

During the surgery, visitors are encouraged to the place they are
staying. Please allow extra time after surgery for the patient to arrive
at the Cardiovascular Recovery Room. There are many things that can
delay their arrival.
Carefully Watched
Several hours (usually 2-4 hours) after your surgery, you will begin
to wake up. You may see several people around your bed. This is
routine. Many patients feel confused and anxious when they first wake
up. Try to remember that you are never left alone in CVRR and you are
being watched very carefully.
1. Visiting hours. Because of special needs of patients who have
had cardiac surgery, visiting hours must be restricted in the
CVRR. In general, one or two close family members may visit and
can view the patient from a viewing deck, after the CVRR nurse
informs that the patient arrives at the CVRR. The
Intensivist/Cardio Fellow will talk with your family to tell them
how the surgery went and how are you doing. The visit should
last about for 15 minutes only, so your nurse can continue to
concentrate on your care and you can get enough rest. The
nursing staff in the CVRR may alter these guidelines depending
on your condition, we hope that the family members will respect
the concerns of the nurses, and end visits when asked.
2. Designated family spokesman. We understand how important
it is for your family to receive information about your condition.
We do ask that families designate one person to be the main
spokesperson for the family. The staff will be in close contact with
this person, who can relay information as needed to the rest of
your family and friends.
Connected to Equipment
1. Breathing Tube or Endotracheal Tube (ET). When you
first wake up, the ET tube will be in your mouth and a
ventilator will be helping you breathe until you are fully
awake, it was put in during surgery. Your lungs need help until
the entire anesthetic has worn off. The Intensivist will
gradually wean you off the ventilator until you are fully able to
breathe on your own. You will not be able to talk while you
have the ET tube in place, but you will be able to gesture,

nod, and/or write to communicate. Once the ET tube is

removed you will be able to talk. You will be a little hoarse and
you may have a sore throat for a short time. This is normal.

2. Cardiac/Heart Monitor, IV Lines and Tubes:

a. Cardiac Monitor. In the CVRR, you will be connected to a
monitor that shows your heart rate and rhythm.
b. Hemodynamic Lines. These are electronic lines; A large
IV line in your neck (Swan-Ganz Catheter) is a small tube
placed in a vein on the side of your neck that allows the
pressure within your heart chambers to be monitored and
allows the nurses to give you medication. A small IV line in
your wrist or groin allows the nurses and doctors to
monitor your blood pressure and take blood samples.
c. Nasogastric Tube (NGT). You will have this small tube in
your nose. It reaches down to your stomach and it is used
to keep the stomach empty during the surgery. And it is
also used if youre bloated to expel the air from your
stomach.
d. Chest Tubes. These are drains that are placed inside your
chest during surgery. These tubes help remove excess air
and fluid from around your heart and lungs. The bloody
drainage is normal and when the drainage begins to slow
down they will be removed (usually it takes 2-3 days). The
chest tubes are connected to a suction machine, which will
make a bubbling sound.
e. Pulse Oximeter. This is a small device taped to your
finger that provides a continuous reading of the amount of
oxygen in your blood.
f. Foley Catheter. This is a small tube that drains urine from
the bladder.
g. Temporary Pacemaker Wires. The temporary
pacemaker is needed to help regulate your hearts rhythm,
which can be irregular after surgery. The very thin wires
attached to the temporary pacemaker are placed on the
surface of your heart during surgery and enter your body
on your lower chest. These wires are removed of the day of

discharge, but your pacemaker will be turned off sooner.

DO NOT play with the buttons on the pacemaker.