Life after Open Heart Surgery

In an open heart surgery the chest is cut open and the surgery is performed on the muscles, valves or arteries of the heart. The most common type of open heart surgery is coronary artery bypass surgery, also known as CABG surgery. In this procedure a healthy vein or artery is grafted to the artery which is blocked, so that the heart receives fresh blood supply.

Often it has been seen that the patient and his family goes through a great amount of emotional trauma during and after the surgery. Somehow there is lot of fear among the patient community on open heart surgery. With so many qualified and experienced doctors, there has been a high success rate of this surgery.

Life after the open heart surgery can be a little different. Here are certain things which you need to keep in mind after the CABG surgery. Once the surgery is done it is normal that the patient experiences tightness, itching and/ or numbness along the incision. But at the same time you need to keep in mind that this pain is different than the chest pain which was experienced before the surgery.

In case the veins from your legs have been used for grafting, then it is natural that you experience pain in the legs. The stiffness and tightness caused by the graft can be brought down by going on short walks, engaging in your daily activities and most of all giving it some time to recover.

For the initial 6 to 8 weeks it is highly recommended that you engage in very light activities. You can do the daily household chores, but it is advised that you do not stand for more than 15 minutes at a time. Climbing of stairs should be avoided and you should refrain from lifting heavy objects. Also activities which require forceful pushing and pulling should not be undertaken. Also you need to wait for at least 6 to 8 weeks before you start driving. Though there is no problem in you riding as a passenger. Most of all, it is very important that you go on walks, once you are back home after the open heart surgery.

Apart from physical activities, another aspect which needs fair amount of attention is the kind of diet you take. It is commonly seen that a for few weeks after the surgery, the patient's appetite comes down. In such cases having small meals in intervals will be quite helpful. But if this condition does not change after few weeks of surgery, then it is important that you consult your doctor.

There have been several cases wherein the patient is unable to sleep or is emotionally depressed after the surgery. It is crucial that proper care from near and dear ones and following of proper diet habits be done in order to overcome this situation.

If precautions are taken and healthy lifestyle be followed, life after the open heart surgery can be an easy one.

For more details on open heart surgery and Cabg bypass surgery, visit www.manipalinternationalpatientcare.com or email at mipc@manipalhospitals.com