Explanations for Coronary Artery Surgery Patients and Their Relatives
PREFACE
In this booklet you will learn about open heart surgery and the postoperative period. There is information about how you will need to organize your life. When you return home shortly after heart surgery, you should know that the problem has been resolved, but you will also spend part of the recovery period at home. The information contained in this booklet is explained in a simple language that everyone can understand.
Coronary arteries are blood vessels that carry the oxygen and energy needed by the heart muscle. The accumulation of fatty substances on the coronary artery wall causes blood flow to be blocked. If the blockage in blood flow is excessive, a heart attack may occur during exercise, resulting in chest pain or the death of some heart muscle.
Coronary artery disease is very common in Turkey. More than half of the heart surgeries performed in our country every year are coronary bypass surgeries. In coronary bypass surgeries, in order to ensure blood supply to the heart muscle, a vessel is taken from another part of the body and bypassing is performed over the area where there is blockage. The vein used for bypass is taken either from the inner part of the anterior chest wall (IMA) or from the leg (Saphenous vein), often from both. This allows more blood to flow beyond the blocked area. In this way, the risk of heart muscle weakness and heart attack is eliminated. Coronary bypass surgeries are performed using an incision made in the midline of the chest and a heart-lung pump device.
WHAT IS THE RISK OF CORONARY ARTERY SURGERY?
Coronary artery bypass surgeries are performed in hospital. The mortality rate is (30 days after surgery) 1-2%. This is a very low risk percentage and indicates that this type of surgery is very successful. The risk is higher in patients who have previously had a heart attack or damaged their heart muscle. Every year, approximately 5,000 people undergo coronary bypass surgery in Turkey.
WHAT NEW TECHNIQUES ARE IN CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE? IS IT USED?
You may have heard that a technique called “balloon angioplasty” is used in some coronary patients. In this technique, a balloon-tipped catheter sent through the groin vein is placed in the narrowed part of the coronary artery and inflated with high pressure. Thus, the narrowed part expands. If this technique is suitable for you, your cardiologist will already recommend this method to you before the surgery.
HEART TRANSPLANT SURGERY
To some patients with very advanced heart disease, doctors They say that heart transplant surgery is required. In this surgery, the patient's heart is replaced with a healthy heart from a suitable recipient. Heart transplant surgeries have been successfully performed at the cardiac surgery center in Turkey. Significant progress has been made in heart transplant surgeries.
New drugs are of great help, especially in preventing the recipient's body from rejecting the implanted heart. Recently, lap lung transplantation is also performed for patients with severe lung disease in addition to heart disease.
HOW WILL MY POST-OPERATION PERIOD BE?
Generally, the recovery period for heart surgery is It takes about three months. However, it should be kept in mind that after major surgery, exact recovery times vary from person to person. The primary factor that creates individual differences is the person's general health condition before the surgery, followed by age and other factors.
The sternum is connected with steel wires. Therefore, the possibility of opening is slim. However, since it takes up to 6 weeks for the sternum to begin to heal, it is important not to lie on your side during this period and not to put weight on the arms when lying down or getting up.
For the sternum to heal;
First Be careful not to put weight on the arms when lying down or getting up for 6 weeks. Have someone lift you up by supporting you from your back.
- Lie on your back. Do not lie on your side.
- Do not drive for 8 weeks after surgery.
- Do not carry a load of more than five kilos in the first three months.
- Lifting, pushing. , pulling, sweeping, shopping, carrying children, Do not engage in heavy activities such as pushing open winter windows, jar lids and heavy doors, hoeing and gardening.
STARTING THE WORK
Heart surgery Most patients with this condition can continue their previous jobs. The start time varies depending on the type of work done. As a general rule, those who work in light jobs can start working two months after the surgery.
It is difficult for those who work in heavier jobs, especially in manual work, to start working before three months; Time should be given for the muscles to strengthen and the joints and the breastbone to heal.
REHABILITATION FOLLOWING CARDIAC SURGERY
The recovery period after open heart surgery is 6-8 weeks. You may be tired and weak during this time. Make sure you sleep 8-10 hours a night for the first few weeks. Rest for about an hour in the afternoon. Do not exert yourself after eating. Do not eat before going to bed in the evening. Rest when you are tired. Limit the number of people who come to visit you. Do not kiss them.
PAIN:
The pain that develops due to the surgical incision varies from person to person. In general, chest, shoulder and back pain should disappear within a few weeks. It takes approximately three months for the sternum (board of faith) that was cut during the surgery to fully heal. For this reason, it is inconvenient for you to lie on your side for three weeks and you should not lift more than 5 kg.
SURGERY SITE INFLAMMATION:
If there is no inflammation at the wound site when leaving the hospital, it is unlikely to occur later. is a possibility. However, if redness, swelling and discharge occur at the wound site and continue, you should consult your doctor.
APPEARANCE OF THE STITCHES:
There may be watery leaks at the incision site. The stitches are dissolved and destroyed by the body. However, if you feel extremely uncomfortable, go to the doctor.
LEG CUTTING
Situations that may disturb you:
1 - SWELLING:Swelling in the leg where the vein was taken, around the ankle and in the foot is a common occurrence. While this swelling is less in the morning hours, it increases in the evening. It may increase towards ma. It disappears towards the morning after going to bed at night. The reason for this is that one of the veins in that leg was removed and blood circulation was slightly impaired. Over time, other veins will take over this task and the problem will disappear.
It is rare for this swelling to last more than three months. To minimize swelling, you should follow the recommendations below.
. This will facilitate the recycling of blood from the leg.
and should not be taken off until going to bed at night.
2. NUMBERS: There may be numbness around the lower end of the incision on your leg. This situation is the natural result of the procedure performed. There is no need to worry.
EXERCISE
Have someone accompany you on your first walk and increase the distance little by little. It is useful to walk on your own once a day for three weeks after surgery. It should be done on a flat road, with rest. After three weeks, the walking order can be increased to two or three, provided that the above rules are followed. Full recovery after surgery will take three months. Do the following exercises to relieve your pain.
EMOTIONAL REACTIONS
Some patients may be depressed for a few days after surgery. This situation will be resolved in a short time. After returning home Many patients describe distress and a mild state of depression. They may think that they are not in any state of recovery. All patients who have undergone major surgery may experience such feelings and feel better day by day.
EXCITEMENT
You may be excited and sensitive in the first few weeks after surgery. Do not worry, this situation will disappear after 4-6 weeks.
BATH
If all the incisions are boiled and dry, you can take a shower, otherwise your wound may become infected. Unless there is a specific situation, you can take a bath with warm water 1 week after you go home. Preferably, you should be sitting.
HOUSE AND GARDEN WORKS
You can do light housework 4 weeks after the surgery.
Before three months have passed, Do not do the work. Lifting, pushing, pulling, sweeping the floor, shopping, carrying children, hoeing and gardening.
DIET
It is not right to eat fried foods and excessively fatty foods. These increase the risk of heart disease. Obesity is the biggest enemy of the heart and its patients. You should stay at your ideal weight by following a healthy diet. If a salt-free diet is recommended, strictly follow it.
ALCOHOL
It is harmful to heart patients. If you are using anticoagulant medication such as coumadin, alcohol will increase its effect, so patients using medication should not drink alcohol.
CIGARETTE
Smoking is more harmful to you than to a person. . It increases blood pressure and heart rate. It causes irreversible damage to the vessels and lungs. Absolutely no smoking.
DRIVING
After a period of 7-8 weeks, you can drive short distances, but this will create stress and cause a strain on the shoulders and chest. Do not drive for long distances and during congested traffic hours.
SPORTS
You can ride a bicycle two months after leaving the hospital, but it should never be on a hill or in a challenging way. In the same period, you can swim short distances in a suitable climate.
YOUR SEXUAL LIFE:
A child who has had heart surgery
Read: 0
