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Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

Discharge
Discharge time is 11:00 am. Let us know if you need special assistance in planning your discharge from the hospital or help at home after discharge.

Follow-up Appointment
Before leaving the hospital, call the Cardiac Surgery Clinic (312) 695-2885 to schedule a chest X-ray and an appointment with the Cardiac Surgery Outpatient Clinic one to two weeks after discharge. The outpatient clinic is located at Galter Pavilion, 675 N. Saint Clair St., Suite 19-100.

In addition, you must schedule an appointment with either your referring physician or cardiologist within two to three weeks after going home.

Home Care
Patients are back to normal routines in about six to eight weeks. Some patient activities are limited for a full eight weeks.

During the first weeks after surgery, it is common to tire easily. You will need someone to help you with daily chores and meals. Plan your activities and allow for rest periods. Feeling blue, forgetfulness and problems sleeping are common and will pass over time. Remember to take things slowly and talk about your feelings to friends and loved ones.

General

  • Weigh yourself daily at the same time, with the same scale and wearing the same amount of clothing
  • Report weight gain of more than three pounds within one week to your surgeon

Diet

  • Eat small meals with healthy snacks between meals
  • Foods high in protein will promote healing
  • Include fruits and vegetables to help avoid constipation
  • Follow guidelines provided by the dietitian or your doctor

Activity

  • Keep active
  • Walk every one to two hours
  • Slowly increase the distance you walk each day
  • No strenuous exercise until approved by your doctor
  • Do not lift more than 10 pound for the first eight weeks after surgery. Forceful movement or pressure can affect the healing of your chest incision and breastbone.

Sexuality

  • If you feel good and well rested, you may resume sex.

  • Avoid positions that put pressure on your upper arms or chest area for six to eight weeks until your breastbone heals.

Driving

  • Motion from turning the steering wheel can affect the healing breastbone. Do not drive until you talk with your doctor.
  • Do not drive until you are fully pain free and taking no pain medication

Work

  • Your surgeon's approval is necessary before returning to work

Bathing & Wound Care

  • Have someone nearby to assist you when showering
  • Avoid long showers and using very hot water
  • Keep your incision clean and dry
  • Use a mild soap to gently wash your incision(s)
  • Carefully pat the incision(s) dry; do not rub
  • Do not use powders, colognes or lotions near your incision(s) to prevent infection
  • Inspect the incision(s) daily - your chest incision will look bruised and may be numb, itchy or sore
  • Report any signs of infection to your doctor, such as increased redness, swelling or pain at the site or thick drainage or pus coming from the incision(s)

Medication
Three types of Medication are recommended most often after CABG surgery:

  • Aspirin- A type of blood thinner to reduce the chance of a blockage in the new bypass grafts
  • Statins- Reduce blood fats such as cholesterol and triglycerides that cause build up of deposits inside blood vessels
  • Beta Blockers- Slows the heart and protects the heart so it does not have to work as hard

Other Medications may be recommended to manage your Recovery from CABG

  • Stool softeners- if you become constipated, a stool softener may be taken.
  • Pain relievers-Incision pain and tenderness will lessen over the next two weeks. Pain and discomfort can be relieved with your prescribed pain medicine or acetaminophen (Tylenol(r)). Take pain medicine as directed. If your pain medicine has acetaminophen in it, do not take more than eight tablets or 4,000mg of acetaminophen in a 24-hour period.
  • To prevent nausea, take pain medicine with food.

Contact your doctor, if the medicine does not control the pain

When to Call the Doctor

Call your doctor if you have any of the following:

  • Chest Pain not related to your incision site
  • Temperature of 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit or above
  • Shortness of breath
  • Increased redness, pain or drainage from your wound sites
  • Weight gain of more than three pounds in one day
  • Heart beat is very slow, fast or is skipping beats

Surgery Guide

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
Before Surgery
Day of Surgery
During Surgery
After Surgery
Discharge

Review Date: 03/07