Discharge Instructions for Minimally Invasive Coronary Bypass Surgery

You had minimally invasive coronary bypass surgery. This surgery created a new pathway around a blocked part of your heart’s blood vessels to let blood reach your heart muscle. An alternative to traditional open-heart surgery, this procedure lets your health care provider operate through a few small incisions, instead of cutting through your breastbone.

Before leaving the hospital, make sure you have a follow-up appointment scheduled. Be sure you understand your discharge instructions. It may help to make a list of questions during your hospital stay. It’s important to get all of your questions and concerns answered. Know how to reach your providers after hours and on weekends. Here’s what you need to know about home care. Your provider may give you additional instructions.

Activity

• Don’t drive after your surgery until your health care provider says it's OK. Generally, you should wait at least 4 weeks until you drive. Ask someone to take you to your appointments or wherever else you need to go.

• Don't put too much strain on your sternum (breastbone) while it is healing. Ask your provider how much weight you can lift. Some providers may ask you not to lift anything heavier than 5 pounds. If your sternum was not cut during surgery, your recovery will be quicker.

  Other providers may let you lift weight, as you can tolerate. It's generally OK to use your arms to get out of bed and to get in a chair, as you can tolerate. Check with your provider about your situation.

• Ask your provider when you can expect to return to work. The length of time you will be out of work will depend on the type of job you have.

• Ask your provider when you can start a walking program:

  • If you haven’t already started a walking program in the hospital, start with short walks (about 5 minutes) at home. Go a little farther each day.

  • Choose a safe place with a level surface, such as a local park or mall.

  • Wear supportive shoes to prevent injury to the knees and ankles.

  • Walk with someone. It’s more fun and helps you keep up with your walking program.

  • Ask your provider about a cardiac rehab program. This is one of the best ways to help you get better after heart surgery.

  • Talk with your provider about when you can resume sex again, usually in 2 to 4 weeks.

Other home care

• When you shower, don't use very hot water. It could make you dizzy.

• Clean your incisions every day with mild soap and warm water. Gently pat dry the area of the incisions. Don’t use any powders, lotions, or oils on your incisions until they are healed. If there are any sticky strips still attached to your incision, you can remove them if they don't fall off after 7 days. Prevent vigorous scrubbing. Keep your incision area protected from the sun to prevent sunburn.

• Weigh yourself every day. Do this at the same time every day, preferably in the morning after you urinate and before you eat breakfast. Use the same scale and wear the same kind of clothes.

• Take your medicines exactly as directed. Don’t skip doses.

• Go to all your follow-up visits with your health care providers.

Lifestyle changes

• Maintain a healthy weight. Get help to lose any extra pounds.

• Follow all treatment plans for any other medical problems you may have.

• Cut back on salt:

  • Limit canned, dried, packaged, and fast foods.

  • Don’t add salt to your food at the table.

  • Season foods with herbs instead of salt when you cook.

• If you smoke, quit. If you need help quitting, talk to your health care provider about quit programs and medicines. These can increase your changes of quitting for good.

• Limit your alcohol intake.

• Cut back on fatty foods. Try to stay away from fatty foods, especially those containing saturated and trans fats. Choose lean meats and fish.

• Reduce your stress. Practice relaxation methods like meditation, progressive muscle relaxation, and biofeedback.

When to contact your doctor

Contact your health care provider right away if you have:

• Fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised by your provider.

• Signs of infection (redness, swelling, drainage, or warmth) at or near your incision sites.

• Weight gain of more than 3 pounds in 24 hours or more than 5 pounds in 1 week. 

• Swelling in your hands, feet, or ankles.

• Pain at the incision site that's not relieved with medicine.

• Changes in the location, type, or severity of pain.

Call 911

Call 911 if any of the following occur:

• New, or unusual, shortness of breath

• New, or unusual, chest pain or a return of the symptoms you had before your surgery

• Sudden severe headache

• Coughing up blood

• Dizziness that doesn't go away if you sit down

• Fainting

• Weakness in an extremity that doesn't go away

• Droopiness in the face or difficulty talking

• Loss of vision

• Fast, unusually slow, or irregular pulse

• Tingling, twitching, numbness, or coldness in your arms or legs

• Bright red stool