How to Prepare for Open Heart Surgery

Open-heart surgery involves opening the chest with a large incision to expose the heart. It is a longstanding and widely-used surgical treatment for a variety of cardiovascular conditions including heart failure, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, aneurysms, congenital heart conditions, and arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms).

While some heart surgeries can be done minimally invasively by accessing the heart through small incisions and a camera on the left side of the ribs, that is not the case with open-heart surgery. Instead, a surgeon cuts through your sternum (breastbone) and ribcage with open-heart surgery to fully access your heart.

In some cases, the surgical team will use a cardiopulmonary (heart-lung) bypass machine while they correct the problems. This machine gives your body blood and oxygen while your heart is stopped for the procedure. In other cases, the surgery can be done without using this machine.

This article explains what to expect if you need open heart surgery and how to prepare for the procedure.

Location

A cardiothoracic surgeon (specializing in the heart and lungs) performs open-heart surgeries. Surgeons use general anesthesia, which means you are fully asleep during the procedure.

Open heart surgeries happen in a specialized operating room in a hospital. After surgery, you recover in a cardiac care unit (CCU), an intensive care unit (ICU) devoted explicitly to cardiac care.

In addition, the operating room has a range of specialized equipment to assist with the procedure and keep you stable during treatment. Typically, this includes:

• An intravenous catheter (IV) to administer medications and fluids
• Chest tubes to drain fluid from the lungs
• Foley catheter to drain urine
• Ventilator to administer oxygen during the operation
• Cardiac monitor to monitor heart rate and rhythm

What to Wear

Since you’ll be under general anesthesia, you’ll need to change into the hospital’s dressing gown once you arrive.

Open heart surgery is an inpatient procedure, which means you will stay at the hospital afterward. Therefore, you will also want to bring pajamas or loungewear and a change of clothes for going home. It’s generally a good idea to opt for comfortable, loose-fitting garments.

In addition, your hospital may ask you to remove makeup, nail polish, deodorant, piercings, glasses, and contact lenses. These specifics can vary by location. Someone in your surgeon’s office will review your surgeon’s preferences and the hospital’s policies regarding what to wear and bring.

Food and Drink

Like with other surgeries, you’ll need to modify what you eat and drink before open-heart surgery. Your surgical team will instruct you when to stop eating and drinking—often at some point the night before.

They will also explain what you can and cannot eat before surgery. That means not having any snacks or water after the cutoff time. It’s essential to follow these instructions precisely so that food and drink do not interfere with anesthesia.

Medications

Some drugs can interfere with those used during surgery. Therefore, your surgical team will review your medication list before the surgery.

If you take medications or herbal and dietary supplements that affect blood clotting, such as blood thinners, and some herbs and supplements, your healthcare provider may instruct you to stop taking them before to reduce the risk of bleeding during or after surgery.

Before surgery, your surgical team may administer antibiotics to reduce the likelihood of infection. In addition, if you are feeling anxious, talk to the anesthesiologist (pain medication specialist). They can give you something to help you relax until you receive general anesthesia to put you to sleep.

What to Bring

On the day of your surgery, you’ll want to bring the necessary documentation, medication, and things to keep you comfortable throughout your stay.

Some things to pack for your hospital stay include:

• Photo ID
• Your insurance card
• List of current medications and their dosages
• Medicines in their original packaging
• Comfortable clothing and pajamas
• Glasses, if you wear them
• Toiletries, including toothbrush and toothpaste, deodorant, hairbrush, soap, shampoo
• Electronic devices and chargers
• Books or magazines
• Sleep mask

Typically, people stay in the hospital for about three to seven days after being transferred from the ICU to a regular hospital room. So, as you consider what to pack, think about things that bring you comfort, help you pass the time, and allow you to connect with people during your stay.

Pre-Op Lifestyle Changes

To help promote positive outcomes after open-heart surgery, your healthcare provider will also advise you about healthy choices you can make leading up to surgery. The following steps can help make any operation safer and recovery smoother.

• Get adequate exercise
• Get enough sleep
• Eat nutritious food
• Quit smoking

In addition, if you become ill before surgery, your procedure may need to be rescheduled. So take extra precautions to avoid exposure to illness. If you get sick during the run-up to your surgery, let your healthcare provider know as soon as possible.

Summary

Open heart surgery is an umbrella term for various heart surgeries that involve opening your chest to access the heart and correct problems. A cardiothoracic surgeon performs open-heart surgeries under general anesthesia in a hospital operating room.

The procedure is inpatient, which means you will stay overnight. You’ll spend the first nights of recovery in the ICU, then move to a regular room.

A Word From Verywell

It’s normal to feel anxious about open-heart surgery. However, being prepared with what to expect helps many people feel more at ease.

Talk to your surgeon about your concerns and questions. They can help you understand what to do before surgery to make the experience safe and comfortable. In addition, letting them know about your anxiety can ensure that you receive adequate pre-surgery medication to help you relax.