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French Hospital Medical Center in San Luis Obispo or Marian Regional Medical Center in Santa Maria
Please bring a list of all current prescription and nonprescription medications you are using. Please be able to provide information on prior medical conditions and procedures. If possible and acceptable to you, it is advisable to bring a family member of trusted friend to the consultation.
Depending on the procedure, a typical heart operation takes about three to four hours. Your loved ones should know that to give you the best care possible, your operative team will need at least one hour before the actual start of the surgery to prepare you for the procedure, and typically about one hour after the surgery concludes to make you comfortable and settled into your ICU room. Your loved ones will be permitted to visit you roughly one-hour post-surgery.
Most patients who are recovering from heart surgery initially do so in the intensive care unit (ICU). When surgery is complete and your loved ones have spoken with the surgeon, they will be told in which ICU you are recovering.
Since everyone recovers at a different rate, there is no set time limit for ICU stays. Many of our patients are able to leave the ICU in 24 to 48 hours to be transferred to a step-down unit. Your length of stay there depends completely on you and your health status.
The length of recovery time needed before driving following your surgery will depend on the operation. For most open heart operations, driving can be resumed four weeks from the date of surgery. For other chest and vascular operations, driving can usually be resumed within 1-2 weeks as directed by your surgeon.
The length of stay varies, but generally 4-8 days is average following heart surgery.
‘Sternal precautions’ should be adhered to for the first 6-8 weeks after open heart surgery in order to allow your incisions to appropriately heal.
Recommendations include:
• Lifting with arms should require less than 10 pounds of pressure and at a pain-free level
• In general, the upper arms should be kept close to the body
• It is advisable to hug a pillow over the surgical incision when coughing and sneezing
• Movements of the arms in the horizontal level, backwards or over the shoulder level, should
only be performed within pain-free limits
• It is advisable to sleep on ones back (rather than side or stomach) as much as possible for the first 3-4 weeks following surgery
• Patients with large breasts should use a supportive brassiere that fastens in the front
• Additional information and guidance on sternal precautions will be given by your surgical team while recovering in the hospital
Our team understands the decision to move forward with heart surgery of any kind is a personal and monumental one. You can feel confident that you’ll be in the experienced hands of our dedicated cardiac professionals who will help guide these decisions, educate you on the pros and cons associated with the procedure they are recommending, and answer your questions. If you have been diagnosed with a condition that requires surgical care, our team will work with you to develop a comprehensive heart care plan, accounting for your goals and designed to optimize your outcomes and quality of life.
Your heart care team will provide a variety of informational resources to help you during your recovery process following heart surgery. These resources may include:
- Information on a heart-healthy diet
- A comprehensive guide to exercise and early mobility following heart surgery including detailed exercise instruction and tips for performing activities of daily living
- Information about support groups. Heart surgery is stressful. Talking to other individuals in the same boat can be helpful. In-person and virtual support groups are available through the American Heart Association and Mended Hearts.
- Free services to help you quit smoking, if necessary.
Cardiac rehabilitation is a supervised program that includes physical activity, health education including diet and medication usage, and emotional support.
All patients who undergo heart surgery will be referred to a cardiac rehab program, which can usually start within a few weeks after the operation.
