Patient Info

Patients Guide to Heart Surgery

A step-by-step tour of the heart surgery process, focusing on patient needs and questions. Including descriptions of the heart and arteries, coronary artery disease, and surgical procedures and treatments.

About...

• Your Heart
• Circulation of Blood
• Coronary Arteries: Lifelines of the Heart
• Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
• Symptoms of Coronary Artery Disease
• Valves of the Heart
• Valves of the Heart: Circulation of Blood , Part 1
• Valves of the Heart: Circulation of Blood, Part 2
• What is an Arrhythmia?
• What is Heart Failure?

Types of Heart Surgeries

• Heart Transplant: Patient Guide
• Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)
• Minimally Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypass (MIDCAB)
• Heart Valve Surgery
• Non-Surgical Treatment Options

Before Your Surgery

• Registration and Pre-Admission
• Your Surgery Team
• What to Bring to the Hospital / Accommodations
• What to do the Night Before and Day of Surgery

During Your Surgery

• Arriving in the Operating Room
• Recovering in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit)
• Staying in the CT Unit
• Telemetry Nursing Unit

After Your Surgery

• Discharge Planning
• Follow-Up Appointments After Heart Surgery
• Pain Management and Medication After Heart Surgery
• Taking Care of Your Incisions After Heart Surgery
• Your Emotional and Mental Well-Being After Surgery
• Sleeping
• Diet and Nutrition
• How to Keep Your Heart Healthy
• Resuming Activities and Exercise After Heart Surgery
• In Case of Emergency After Heart Surgery: What to do if...