The average hospital stay after heart surgery is about 5 days.
Here is an example of a typical post-operative period:
The Day of Surgery
Patients after heart surgery are transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). They are usually kept asleep for few hours and sometimes overnight to make sure everything is ok. The Patient will be waken up in the intensive care unit slowly.
Patient is connected with many tubes and lines:
- Arterial line around the wrist
- A big drip in the neck
- Large tubes from the chest to take extra blood from around the heart
- Electric wires for heart pacemaker
- Urinary catheter
First Day
Patient will be sat out. Patient will be allowed small amounts of food and drink. Patient might get out of bed to chair. Patient will require close attention by nurses and doctors.
Second Day
The chest tubes will be removed and Physiotherapists will work on breathing. Patient will start making few steps around the bed.
Third Day
Patient will go to the ward and start walking. Generally patients feel tired on the third day and needs more rest.
Fourth Day
Patient gets more energetic and starts to feel normal.
Routine blood tests and X-rays will be performed.
Patient will be prepared for going home.
Fifth Day
Once all the tests, checks and patient is able to walk up and down the stairs, then they will be discharged.