Post-Surgery Care For Cardiac Patients

Follow-up appointments

• Follow-up appointments are listed on your discharge summary.
• Bring your discharge summary and all medications in the bottles with you.
• Call 210-450-0999 if unable to keep appointment.

Discharge medications

• Take only the medications listed on your discharge summary.
• Discard old medications.
• Please review your medication list carefully and compare medications picked up from pharmacy with discharge medication list.

 Wound care

• Shower daily and wash incisions with mild soap and water.
• Do not soak or submerge incisions in water — no baths, swimming pools or hot tubs.
• The top layer of your skin may be sealed with surgical glue. Around 10-14 days post-surgery, you may experience flaking of the glue around the incision. The incision should remain closed.
• It is normal for your incision to be bruised, itchy, numb and/or sore.
• Do not use creams, lotions, ointments or powder on the incisions.

Pain management

• Take pain medication when the pain first begins — don’t wait until you are in severe pain.
• Use your medication only as directed. If the pain does not get better or if it gets worse, call us.
• Medications taken by mouth need at least 20 minutes to take effect.
• Take pain medication before any activities that increase pain (for example: walking, using the breathing machine).
• Most pain medications will cause constipation. It is easier to prevent constipation with prune juice or a bulk laxative (examples include Metamucil or Benefiber) than to wait until it becomes severe.
• Non−drug methods such as ice, heat and relaxation can also help decrease pain.
• Many pain medications can cause drowsiness. Avoid alcoholic beverages and operating heavy machinery while taking pain medication.

Activity do's and don'ts

• Do get some light exercise daily. Walking is the best choice.
• Do NOT lift any object weighing more than five pounds for four weeks.  Five pounds is approximately the weight of a gallon of milk in each hand.  
• Do NOT drive for six weeks or until cleared by your physician
• Do NOT drive while taking pain medication
• Do NOT return to work or school until cleared by your physician
• Refrain from sexual activity for six weeks after surgery
• Do NOT swing a golf club, fire a rifle, wear a backpack, push, pull, lift or drag any object heavier than five pounds or participate in any activity that applies pressure to your chest or shoulders for eight weeks.

Diet

• Avoid added salt
• Decrease intake of fats and cholesterol
• Eat a balanced, healthy diet to help your wound heal

Please check your incisions every day. If any of the following occurs, call 210-450-0999. For any life-threatening emergency, call 9-1-1.

• Swelling 
• Opening in the incisions
• Redness (a small, non−tender rim less than 1/4" on edge of incision is probably normal)
• Excessive tenderness
• Drainage (yellow or bloody, or any fluid with an odor)
• Temperature above 101 degrees