After Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery: At Home

You will need at least 1 to 3 weeks of healing before you can go back to your normal routine. While you are healing, follow your doctor’s advice. Call your doctor if you have questions. Take all your medicines as prescribed.

Follow-up visits

After your surgery, follow-up appointments will be made for you before you leave the hospital. You will have visits with all members of your healthcare team including your surgeon and cardiologist (heart doctor). Follow-up visits with your healthcare providers help make sure that you are healing well. To check your healing, you may have tests. These may include chest X-rays, echocardiograms to show the movement of your heart muscle, and electrocardiograms (ECGs) to show if there are any changes in your heart’s rhythm. If you are taking medicines, you may have blood tests to check your medicine levels.

Incision care

Healing takes several weeks. Your incisions may be bruised, itchy, numb, or sore for a few days. The bandage or dressing on your chest will be removed before you go home. Ask your healthcare provider how you should care for it at home. Incision care should include the following:

• Shower every day.
• No tub baths until your doctor says they’re OK, because they affect your blood flow and can increase risk for infection.
• Clean your incision with mild soap and water. Then gently pat the area to dry it.
• Do not use any powders, lotions, or oils on your incision until it is well healed or your healthcare provider tells you it is OK.

Activity

• Do not drive until cleared by your surgeon. Let others drive you wherever you need to go. When travelling as a passenger, sit in the back seat (in case of air bag deployment) and wear your safety belt.  
• A walking program will be started in the hospital with a physical therapist before you go home.  You should continue this program at home and gradually increase the walking as much as you can tolerate:
• • Begin with short walks and go a little longer each day.
  • Choose a safe place with a level surface, such as a local park or mall.
  • Wear supportive shoes to prevent injury to your knees and ankles.
  • Walk with someone. It is more fun and helps you stay with it.