Patient Instructions following Cardiac Surgery (Adult)

Important information  

It is important to understand how to care for yourself while you recover from cardiac surgery at home. Review these instructions and ask your healthcare team about any questions or concerns you may have. 

Surgical incision care instructions

• If you are discharged home with specific incision care instructions, you will be given a written copy of the instructions and they will be reviewed with you before discharge. 

• Your surgical incision takes 2-4 weeks to heal after surgery. Keep the incision clean, dry, and open to air. 

• If steri-strips are on the incision, they may take 7-14 days for steri-strips to fall off. As the strips become soiled or if edges begin to curl, you may remove them. If the steri-strips have not fallen off by 14 days, they should be gently removed. 

• It is normal for the incision to feel numb, tingly, or itchy during the healing process. 

• Do not scratch the incision. This could lead to an infection. Cover the incision with a dressing to avoid scratching and if it is irritated by clothing. Change the dressing every day with bathing. 

• Do not use antibiotic creams, body creams or lotions on the incision during the 2–4 weeks after surgery. Creams and lotions may be applied after all the scabs have fallen off and the incision is healed. 

• For female patients, an underwire-free bra may be worn to prevent stress on the incision.

• Avoid direct sun exposure to the incision for 6-12 months after surgery. Use sunscreen and wear a shirt whenever you are outside.

• Do not swim or cover the incision with water until it is completely healed. 

Bathing instructions

• Gently wash the incision every day with soap and water. Pat dry. Do not scrub the incision.  

• If there are steri-strips, gently wash them with soap and water and pat dry. 

• For the first 2 weeks after surgery, do not take showers or baths where water could soak or cover the incision. You can go back to your usual bathing routine once the incision is fully healed. 

• Week 1 after surgery: sponge baths are recommended. 

• Week 2 after surgery: bathe in a shallow bath where water does not cover the incision. 

• At first, you may feel very weak so be sure to have someone close by to help with bathing if needed. Until you feel stronger, it may help to place a chair in the shower. Use a heavy chair or one with rubber tips on the legs to prevent the chair from moving.

• Avoid bathing in very hot water or taking hot showers.  The hot water may cause you to feel dizzy or weak while you are recovering from surgery.

Signs of infection

If you have any signs or symptoms of infection at the incision site, call the Cardiac Surgery office right away:

• Temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher

• Redness 

• Warmth 

• Swelling 

• Drainage

• Opening or separation of the incision edges

Activity guidelines

After cardiac surgery, the breastbone, also called the sternum, can take 6-8 weeks to heal. Practice the sternal precautions the healthcare team reviewed with you until you are cleared by the cardiologist to stop them. Avoid activities that could cause strain or trauma to the chest area. 

• For 4-6 weeks after surgery, avoid household activities that require lifting more than 10 pounds and pushing heavy objects, such as vacuuming, carrying grocery bags.  

• For 6 weeks after surgery, avoid contact sports and swinging arm movements.

• For at least 8-12 weeks after surgery, avoid push-ups, chin-ups, or lifting weights.

• Check with your cardiologist before resuming any exercise, weightlifting or sports activities.

• Short walks and climbing stairs are ok. If you experience shortness of breath, chest pain or palpitations, call your cardiologist.

• You may continue sexual activities unless you become short of breath, dizzy, or unusually tired. Avoid positions that cause discomfort to the chest. If you are tired or tense, treat sex as you would other activities and wait until you feel better.

• Women may notice a delay in their menstrual cycle or irregular periods for several months after surgery. This is a temporary response to the stress of surgery. 

• Try to take two 20–30-minute rest periods each day during the first two weeks at home. Aim for 8 (or more) hours of sleep each night.

Returning to work

• Returning to work will be discussed at your 4-to-6-week check-up. Recovery is different for everyone. When you return to work will depend on the type of work, the demands of the job and your stamina.

• General guidelines:

• • Limited office work at home: about 2 weeks after discharge

  • Full time office work, light housework: about 4-8 weeks after discharge

  • Traveling sales work, full housework: about 6-10 weeks after discharge

  • Factory work with light lifting: about 8-12 weeks after discharge

  • Unlimited heavy manual labor: about 4-6 months after discharge

Driving

• You can ride as a passenger in a car but should not plan long trips over 1 hour until after the 1st check-up after discharge.

• We will discuss when you can start driving at your 4-to-6-week check-up.

• Do not drive if you still require narcotics for pain.

• If your incision is tender, place a pillow between your chest and the seat belt.

Diet and alcohol

• Your appetite will slowly return as you recover. Try eating smaller, more frequent meals instead of large ones.

• Eat a well-balanced diet that includes fruits, vegetables, and iron rich foods like leafy green vegetables.

• You may have an occasional alcoholic drink (1 drink/day or less).

• Do not drink alcohol if you are taking any sedative or pain medication.

Medicines

• Take all prescribed medicine according to the directions.

• It is important that you know the name of each medicine, why you are taking it, how much to take, when and how to take it, and any side effects.

• Call your cardiologist if you have side effects from prescribed medicines.

• You may take acetaminophen (Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (Motrin®) for discomfort. Follow the directions on the bottle, or as prescribed by your cardiologist.   

• Talk with your cardiologist about any herbal medicine, vitamins, or other supplements you may be taking. 

• It is normal to be constipated after surgery. Anesthesia and pain medicine can slow your GI system. Take a stool softener to help with constipation. A laxative such as Milk of Magnesia™, Citrucel™ or Fibercon™ may help promote regular bowel movements as well. 

• You may require antibiotics before dental work, including your regular cleanings. This is to prevent an infection of the heart that you may be at risk for following cardiac surgery. Antibiotics can be ordered by your primary care physician or your cardiologist.

Follow-up care

• The CT surgery team will follow-up with you until the incision is fully healed. The follow-up plan is typically scheduled at time of discharge, and may include in-person or telemedicine visits, or MyCHOP updates. If you do not have a follow-up plan at discharge, please call the Cardiac Surgery office to schedule an appointment. 

• If you are discharged home with chest tube sutures (black) they can be removed at your first follow up appointment with the cardiologist, or by your primary care provider. If your primary care provider is not comfortable removing the sutures, or they have not been removed for more than 2 weeks since surgery, schedule an appointment with the CT surgery team. 

• If you are discharged home with midsternal incision sutures (blue) or staples, you can schedule an appointment with the CT surgery team to have them removed. They should be removed within 2 weeks from surgery.

• Call Cardiac Surgery at any time with any questions, concerns. Call immediately for:

• Signs of wound infection

• Nausea or vomiting

• Shortness of breath or difficult breathing

• Extreme fatigue

Cardiac Center Contact Information

Daytime Hours:

• Cardiac Surgery Office, Monday- Friday 8am-5pm: (215) 590-2708

• Cardiology Outpatient Office, Monday- Friday 8:30am-5pm: (215) 590-4040

After 5pm and weekends:

• Call 215-590-1000, ask the hospital operator for the Cardiology Fellow on-call.  

Voorhees Cardiology Office, available 24 hours for Voorhees patients: (856) 783-0287

For non-urgent questions, you may contact our team via MyChop message:

• Send to “CT SURGERY Physician Assistants”

Philadelphia Adult Congenital Heart Center: (215) 614-3388

Reviewed 9/5/2024 by Elizabeth Trovato, PA-C