How long will the surgery take?
On average, Open Heart Surgery takes 4-5 hours, however, each person is an individual with unique and special needs which may require extra time.

Where will my family wait?
Your family will meet with the surgeon after your surgery is complete. The surgeon will look for
your family in the Intensive Care Unit waiting room on the second floor of the hospital. This waiting room serves the families of both the Intensive Care Unit and the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit.

Where will I go after surgery?
After your Open Heart Surgery, you will be taken from the Operating Room directly to our Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit where our specially trained Open Heart Team will take care of you. These individuals are specialized in the care of Open-Heart Surgery patients and will be with you through your most critical recovery.

Can my family see me after my surgery?
Your family will see you as soon as you have been assessed and settled into your room in the
Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit. This is usually about an hour after your family has met with the surgeon.
After their initial visit, the visiting hours are
  10:00 - 10:30 AM
  2:00 - 2:30 PM
  6:00 - 6:30 PM
  9:00 - 9:30 PM
(There are exceptions to these hours) Families are encouraged to call the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit
at any time to inquire about their loved ones.

How long will I be in the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit?
Patients usually stay 1 - 2 days in the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit.

Where will I go after I leave the Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit?
All patients who have Open Heart Surgery are transferred from the
Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit to the Intermediate Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit on the 8th Floor.
Patients stay on this specialty unit until they are discharged. The nursing staff
work together with the rest of the healthcare team to prepare patients for their discharge.

Will I have pain?
The surgeons and staff are experts at pain relief. Of course, as with all surgery, there is some degree of pain,
but the staff pride themselves in early recognition and control of postoperative pain.

How long will I be in the hospital?
Patients are usually discharged on the 5th postoperative day, depending on their overall health condition. At times,
patients are discharged to a skilled nursing facility if they may require some additional time in order to be able to be on their own.