Immediately after surgery, a doctor who assisted your surgery and an anesthetist will bring you to Intensive Therapeutic Unit (ITU), where you will be closely monitored for 24- 48 hours. This is an important part in the overall success of your heart operation.

When you first awaken from anesthesia, don’t be alarmed if you experience a certain amount of disorientation and discomfort. For a brief period of time your legs may feel numb, or you may feel some confusion or anxiety. But these are short – lived effects of anesthesia. ITU nursing staff will assist you as you regain consciousness.

While your body is at rest during surgery, a variety of medical equipment does much of the body’s work for you. Upon waking up, you will also notice that you are still connected to a variety of medical equipment, which was attached during operation. Tubes and monitoring devices inserted during surgery will monitor your blood pressure and pressure in chambers of your heart. 

Chest tubes are inserted through the skin to drain excess blood from around the heart into a bottle. A urinary catheter will be in place to accurately record urine output. Initially, all fluids will be given intravenously (through a needle). The electrodes placed on your chest will monitor heart rhythm (ECG). These tubes and wires may seem awkward and uncomfortable, but it is important for you to know that they are used routinely in open – heart surgery. You should be able to move in bed with the assistance of a nurse even though you are still connected to these devices.

Until you are awake and strong enough to breathe on your own, you will be attached to the ventilator. While on the ventilator you will not be able to talk, but the nurses are trained to assist you in communicating. The Endotracheal Tube (EET) was inserted into the windpipe through your mouth or nose while you are asleep. The tube is attached to the ventilator that breathes for you during and after surgery.

• It guarantees adequate amount of oxygen to the heart muscles

• It helps clear secretion of mucus from your lungs

• It helps you breathe while you are asleep

• The EET is generally removed 6-24 hours after surgery; when you are able to cough out. After the tube is removed you may have a sore throat. This will pass off soon with steam inhalation

Intravenous (IV) lines provide nutrition and medication through your veins until you can take food and liquid from mouth.  

Pacemaker wires may be attached to your through the skin to permit your to adjust your heart rate when needed. 

The heart monitor connected to your chest by electrodes records your heart rate and rhythm at all times. 

A Foley catheter drains the urine from bladder, and is usually discontinued on second day after surgery. Please be aware that there are often significant weight shifts around the time of surgery. You may gain body fluid during the operation, and lose it afterwards.

A Swan Ganz catheter is inserted through a vein in your neck, into your heart, and is used to measure volume status and pressure in your heart’s chambers. This line is generally removed the day after surgery.

While you are in hospital, you may notice that your normal sleeping pattern is interrupted. This is because in the ITU monitoring will be done round the clock, lights will be on constantly, doctors and nurses will be entering and leaving the ITU frequently. It is natural for you to lose track of time. To help your heart heal, your body temperature will be kept cool. To accomplish this the temperature in your room will be kept low and bed clothing will be light. Although you may be uncomfortable, low temperature is important for your recovery.

The members of your family will not be permitted to visit you in the ITU for the first 24- 36 hours. 

During your convalescing period, the medical and nursing staff and your physical therapies will be concentrating on the following: 

• Breathing and Bronchial hygiene – Deep breathing and coughing are advised. Postural drainage (changing the posture of the patient, if cannot move, to relieve chest congestion) is given, if necessary.

• Getting you started on eating and drinking again.
• Getting you mobilized.