C. S. Mott Children's Hospital

University of Michigan Health System

Heart Surgery

Being nervous is part of having surgery. The doctors and nurses understand this and try hard to make you feel as comfortable as possible.

When it is your turn, they will take you aside and give you some medicine that will make you very sleepy. You will say goodbye to your parents, and the nurses will take you to the operating room. They will move you onto a long skinny bed, and there will be lots of very bright lights and wires and tubes. It might seem like most of the people are not paying attention to you but that is because they each have a special job to do to help the surgeon. You may not see the surgeon because one of the doctors will have you breathe through a mask and you will fall asleep very quickly. There will always be someone with you and they will talk to you as you fall asleep.

When you wake up, you won't remember much because the same medicine that makes you tired makes you forget what happened. You will be in one of two places when you wake up: Pod A (see ICU) or the recovery room. Most kids go to Pod A, but some still go to the recovery room.

If you wake up in the recovery room, your throat may feel dry and scratchy. It may be very hard to move because you body will still be sleepy. You might feel like throwing up, but the doctors can give you medicine to keep you from getting an upset stomach. Once you are awake and doing well, you will be taken to Moderate Care or 5 East (the floor).

You won't remember anything about the operation and you probably won't even remember what day it is. The pain medicine will make you sleepy for several days but the doctors will want you up and walking around as soon as you can.

When you wake up, you will notice that not only do you have stitches, you may also have tubes and wires coming out of your chest. Don't panic! They're supposed to be there. The wires are there in case your heart has electrical problems, but they will be taken out in a few days if everything goes well. Sometimes the doctors will also use the wires later on in the EP or cath labs. The tubes are there to take extra fluid out of your chest so it doesn't push on your heart and lungs and cause problems. When fluid stops coming out of your chest, the tubes will be taken out. You will get more of the sleepy medicine so you won't remember having them taken out. Once the tubes and wires are out and you can eat and drink, soon you will go home.