Become familiar with what you may experience on the day of your heart surgery.
Coronary artery bypass surgery creates a path for blood to flow around a blockage and helps prevent a heart attack.
Bypass surgery creates a new pathway around the blocked part of your artery. This allows blood to flow again.
On the day of your bypass or valve surgery, a patient educator or a nurse may talk with you and your loved ones. You may be told what to expect.
Coronary artery bypass surgery is a type of heart surgery. The surgery is done to bypass a blocked area in a coronary artery.
Learn what to expect in intensive care following heart surgery.
See what you can expect during your hospital recovery.
Learn strategies for rating and describing your pain level to members of your cardiac team, so they can treat it.
Understand how deep and controlled breathing exercises can help strengthen your lungs after surgery.
Learn how gradually increasing your level of activity can help your recovery.
How long you stay in the hospital after open-heart surgery depends on what type of surgery you had and your needs. It may be as short as 3 to 4 days. If you have complications, you may stay in the hospital several weeks or longer.
Your incision may be open to the air by the time you go home. But if you need to change your dressing, follow these steps.
After surgery, you'll be moved to a recovery area where you can be closely watched. From there, you may go to a special care unit or a regular room. The hospital stay after minimally invasive heart surgery varies, but is often 5 to 7 days.
Watch this video to recognize the warning signs and symptoms after heart surgery that require a call to your doctor or emergency services.
Learn how you and your loved ones can cope with the emotions commonly experienced after heart surgery.
In this video, Kirk undergoes bypass surgery after learning he has widespread blockages in his coronary arteries.
Learn how to care for yourself at home after you have minimally invasive heart surgery. Contact your health care provider if you have questions.
During the first few weeks after heart surgery, you'll be regaining your energy and strength. Your doctor will let you know what you can and can't do as you get better.
"Your doctor performed coronary artery bypass graft surgery (also called CABG, pronounced ""cabbage""). This surgery created new pathways around blocked parts of your heart's blood vessels, allowing blood to reach your heart muscle. Your doctor used a healthy blood vessel from another part of your body (a graft) to restore blood flow. "
After coronary artery bypass surgery you will be taking several medicines to help your heart work efficiently and to treat related conditions.
After coronary artery bypass surgery, exercise is an important way to reduce your risk of future heart problems. Start slow, and build up your activity slowly.
You may have many questions in the days following coronary artery bypass surgery. Find out when you can shower and why you need to weigh yourself daily.
After coronary artery bypass surgery, it's important to care for your incision as it heals.
As you heal after coronary bypass surgery, it's important to be active but protect your upper body. Read about some household chores that you can do and some you shouldn't do.
After bypass surgery, it's important to get back into the swing, but take it slow.
After coronary artery bypass surgery, it's important to balance rest with activity.
After coronary bypass surgery, it's important to take time to relax.
Know what symptoms require a call to the doctor after coronary bypass surgery.
After coronary bypass surgery, it's important to control the risk factors that led to heart disease to prevent future heart attacks and the need for more treatment.
After coronary bypass surgery, walking is a safe way to get back into activity.
After coronary artery bypass surgery, you may be prescribed pain medications to help ease incision and breastbone pain.
A cardiac rehab program is a stepped approach to help you recover after heart surgery.
Having coronary bypass surgery can trigger depression, anger, and other feelings.
After coronary bypass surgery, it's important to take an active role in your recovery.
You had minimally invasive coronary bypass surgery. Here's what you need to know about home care.
After your bypass surgery, expect to have regular follow-up visits with your health care team.
After coronary bypass surgery, it's important to prevent swelling in your legs. Follow these instructions to prevent swelling.
As your breastbone heals after coronary bypass surgery, it is important to move carefully.
Learn how to get up and out of bed after bypass surgery. This is to help protect your incision and healing breastbone.
Nearly 25% of heart valve patients feel depressed after surgery, even when it goes well. This is called cardiac depression. Knowing what you may experience emotionally after surgery can help you prepare for it—and identify it—if depression does happen.
Watch this video to learn about what to expect during a coronary artery bypass graft procedure.
Watch this video to learn what to expect during a Minimally Invasive Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting procedure.
Watch this video to learn about what happens during Heart Valve Repair or Replacement.
Watch this video to learn about what happens during a minimally invasive heart valve repair or replacement.
Watch this video to learn about treatment options for coarctation of the aorta.
Watch this video to learn about what to expect during an Atrial Septal Defect Closure procedure.
This surgery is one way to treat blocked areas in the arteries of the heart. See how the surgery is done, and what to expect before and after.
SCAD is an emergency condition. It occurs when a tear develops in the wall of one of the arteries that supplies blood to the heart muscle.
During heart valve surgery, one or more valves are repaired or replaced. Repair means that the valve is mended to help it work better. Replacement means your diseased valve is removed and a new valve is inserted in its place.
Problems such as high blood pressure can weaken an area of the aorta over time. This can cause a tear in the lining of that area.
