Heart Surgery Questions FAQ [Frequently Asked Questions]

General Office Questions

What are your office hours?
Which insurance plans do you accept?
How will I be billed for my surgery?
Can I pay my bill with a credit card?
Who do I contact if I have a billing question?
Will my insurance cover this type of surgery?

General Medical Questions

What are the qualifications of the surgeons in your office?
How long has cardiac surgery been performed in The Reading Hospital and Medical Center?

Pre-Surgery Questions

How long will I be in the hospital?
How long will my recovery take?

After Surgery Questions

When can I drive again?
Am I allowed to lift after surgery?
Do I still need to see my cardiologist?
What about my primary care physician, do I need to see him?
When will I return to the surgeon's office?
Can I shower after surgery?
What about exercise? When can I play golf again?
When can I return to work?
Do I need to change the dressing on my incision(s) when I get home?
How much pain should I expect after surgery?
What type of pain management is used while in the hospital?
What will I take for pain after discharge to home?
Will I still experience chest pain (angina) after surgery?
Can I go up steps?
When can I take vitamins?
When can I swim?
When can I go hunting?
When can I travel in an airplane, car or train?
What will be my diet after surgery?
Can I drink alcohol?
What medications do I need to take after surgery?
What if my heart seems to be beating fast?
Will I need extra sleep after discharge?
What are the signs of incisional infection?
What kind of bra should I wear?

 

General Office Questions

What are your office hours?

• For our Reading Hospital office , the hours are 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Monday through Friday.

Which insurance plans do you accept?

• We accept most major insurance plans. However, please contact us at (610) 374-5000 to discuss your particular insurance plan.

How will I be billed for my surgery?

• Our office will bill your insurance carrier following your service. Plan co-payments and deductibles are billed to the patient.

Can I pay my bill with a credit card?

• Yes, we accept Visa, Mastercard and American Express Cards for your convenience.

Who do I contact if I have a billing question?

• If you have any billing inquiries, please call our office at (610) 374-5000.

Will my insurance cover this type of surgery?

• The majority of medical insurance plans will cover cardiac surgery, however, this question is best answered by contacting our office at (610) 374-5000.

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General Medical Questions

What are the qualifications of the surgeons in your office?

• The surgeons in our office are all Board Certified in the fields of general, thoracic and cardiovascular surgery. In addition, all have extensive experience following their training in the performance of adult heart and lung surgery.

How long has cardiac surgery been performed in The Reading Hospital and Medical Center?

• The first cardiac operation was performed in The Reading Hospital and Medical Center in October 1980.

 

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Pre-Surgery Questions

How long will I be in the hospital?

• The average stay for our patients following the date of their operation is
  5-7 days.

How long will my recovery take?

• After an open heart operation, the majority of patients are discharged at 5-7 days with the following limitations: They are not allowed to lift more than 5-10 lbs., they may not drive for one month. The patients are seen in our office at approximately one month following surgery and, based on their condition, they then are allowed to drive and lift progressively heavier objects.

 

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After Surgery Questions

When can I drive again?

• Typically our patients are given permission to begin driving at one month following the date of surgery.

Am I allowed to lift after surgery?

• After an open heart operation, we are concerned with healing of the breastbone. We, therefore, limit the patient to 5 lbs. for the first month and increasing the weight lifting limit by 5 lbs. for each subsequent month.

Do I still need to see my cardiologist?

• The cardiologists are integral to the care of the open heart surgical patient. During the patient's hospitalization they are available for consultation. After discharge and the patient being seen by their surgeon, we ask all patients to make a follow up visit with their cardiologist.

What about my primary care physician, do I need to see him?

• The primary care physicians are available for consultation, and after the patient has been seen by his surgeon and the cardiologist, we ask the patients to make an appointment in follow up with their primary care physicians for long-term care.

When will I return to the surgeon's office?

• After discharge, arrangements are made through the surgeon's office for a follow up visit, which typically occurs between 3-5 weeks following surgery.

Can I shower after surgery?

• Yes, if the sternal wound is healing well. Should there be any questions, please contact our office.

What about exercise? When can I play golf again?

• After an open heart operation we encourage exercise, however, we feel that lower body exercises are superior. We, therefore, encourage walking, use of a treadmill at low speed and an exercise bicycle. We do not allow returning to weight lifting or heavy straining with the upper body. With regard to playing golf, we limit the patients in the following way: For the first month following surgery no golf whatsoever, or if they are feeling well they may practice putting. During the second and third months we progressively allow the patient to increase the distance from the hole, allowing pitching and chipping during the second month, and approach shots in the third month. After three months if the patient is doing well he may play a full round of golf.

When can I return to work?

• During the first month following open heart surgery we do not allow patients to participate in their work. After the first month, depending upon the type of work and the amount of physical activity needed, the patient may or may not be allowed to work. This will be at the discretion of the surgeon and the patient's cardiologist.

Do I need to change the dressing on my incision(s) when I get home?

After discharge, typically we like the wound to be left open, however, bandages can be applied to protect the wound from abrasions or mechanical injury. Should there be any problems with the wound, please contact our office.

How much pain should I expect after surgery?

• Open heart operations are performed by a bone splitting operation through the breastbone. This bone is firmly sealed at the end of surgery, and there is surprisingly little pain or chest wall discomfort following the operation. What discomfort there is rapidly recedes as time from surgery passes.

What type of pain management is used while in the hospital?

• We are very cognizant that pain control is very important for the patient's well being. Medications are provided to control the level of pain. The typical patient, however, requires only Tylenol and occasional Tylenol with Codeine for control of pain.

What will I take for pain after discharge to home?

• All patients are provided with a prescription for Tylenol with Codeine, however, the majority are well controlled with Tylenol alone.

Will I still experience chest pain (angina) after surgery?

• It is our hope that the majority or all of the patient's angina would be relieved after coronary artery bypass surgery.

Can I go up steps?

• Yes, however, at an appropriate pace.

When can I take vitamins?

• We encourage the use of a multivitamin, and the patient may return to any vitamin supplementations they were taking prior to surgery.

When can I swim?

• With good healing of the sternal wound the patients are allowed to swim in the 3-4 week range.

When can I go hunting?

• Obviously, in the first few weeks after an open heart operation we would limit the patient's hunting activities. After this, the surgeon can discuss with the patient when he would allow the patient to participate again in hunting.

When can I travel in an airplane, car or train?

• We suggest limited travel in the first few weeks after an open heart operation. We prefer, if possible, that the patient be seen in follow up by both their surgeon and their cardiologist prior to traveling long distances, but the majority of our patients can travel quite soon.

What will be my diet after surgery?

• We encourage a general healthy diet without restrictions following surgery, however, diabetics will need to stay within diabetic calorie limits.

Can I drink alcohol?

• We suggest no alcohol in the first few weeks following an operation, and this can be discussed with your surgeon at your follow up visit.

What medications do I need to take after surgery?

• Prior to discharge the patient receives a briefing concerning the specific medications they will be taking in the first few weeks following their operation. These medications will be changed as the patient's course progresses, and our office and our nurses are available for clarification of any questions concerning
  medications.

What if my heart seems to be beating fast?

• We would suggest contacting our office and discussing the specifics with our On Call nurses. Should there be a specific problem, we would suggest the patient be taken to the Emergency Room for a full evaluation.

Will I need extra sleep after discharge?

• It is common that sleep patterns are altered following an open heart operation. This alternation generally returns to normal as the days and weeks pass following surgery, but there is no need for extra sleep.

What are the signs of incisional infection?

• Wound infections following open heart surgery are associated with elevated temperature, a redness and soreness around the site of the wound. If these conditions should arise, please contact our office for guidance.

What kind of bra should I wear?

• We have found that the softest and most comfortable bra is a sport bra which fastens in the back.

 

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