Comments on: “How Long Were You In The Intensive Care Unit After Heart Surgery?” Asks Cindy

By: Jesus Bortoni

Jesus Bortoni — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 03:18:06 +0000

I was in ICU for a little les than 24 hours but in the hospital for ten days. Of course, I had an aortic valve replacement PLUS three bypasses that might have accounted for the additional time.

By: C

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 15:32:30 +0000

My dad had an aortic valve replaced two days ago. He came through the surgery fine but is having trouble with hallucinations/agitation so is still in ICU (his blood oxygen level is still a little low as well). He gets really agitated and confused. Medically they say he is doing fine but they haven’t got him up yet in part due to his confusion. They have him on Percoset and Morphine as the doc wanted his pain under control so his blood oxygen level would improve. It is really scary to see him like that but as long as medically he is fine and reading everyone’s different experiences I have faith that in the long run he will be ok.. it just might be a few more rough days for us. Thank you all for sharing your experiences as it really does help with expectation management… (However it is difficult to convince my dad that this does happen as everyone is different so I will try to share your experiences with him : )_).

By: nicola

nicola — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 12:37:29 +0000

Can anyone help? My Mum had a open heart mitral valve repair six days ago and is still in intensive care. Her kidneys are not working well and she is on dialysis as well as having low blood pressure and now seems to be mentally confused. Has anyone else heard of similar complications? I am so worried about her.

By: doug livernois

doug livernois — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:25:52 +0000

i have read your book and site with great interest..hada triple by-pass and aortic valve replacement 16 days ago at Emory in Atlanta..surgery performed by Dr.Chen in CCU 24 hours and returned home on day 5…a 3 hour 150 mile drive to my home in greenwood sc…..thus far recovering well…your book and site were most helpful in my preparation for the procedure..thanks to you and all who contribute..you and all are providing a most needed service….keep on ticking

By: Tony Korwin

Tony Korwin — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:00:10 +0000

a lot also depends on the needs of the hospital… when I was in, the hospital had an entire floor of heart ICU (20+ beds) and the week of my surgery there was not a lot of emergency traffic, so they just kept me in an ICU room for better monitoring..

By: Janie Niemiec

Janie Niemiec — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 18:52:19 +0000

I was in ICU for two days after my aortic valve replacement (bovine). They kept me in an induced coma until I could breath without the breathing tube. I don’t remember anything about ICU. I do know that you really need to follow doctor and nurses orders. I did not walk as much as I should and I did not deep breath as much as I should and it kept me in the hospital one day longer. Keep walking in order to heal faster! It is now 3 months later and I feel fine! Even purchased a tiny gold cow bell to wear around my neck!

By: debbie Berman

debbie Berman — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:40:21 +0000

I was in the icu for one day and moved to a step down room the next. I was in the hospital from Thursday until Tuesday during which time I experienced hallucinations that weren’t scary, but certainly an odd feeling. I just had my 1 year anniversary of mitral valve repair and I feel great. It took 2-3 months to really feel back to myself, but it does happen eventually and today it’s as if I never had the surgery at all. Be patient, walk often and take care of yourself.

By: paul

paul — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 16:32:52 +0000

Good morning –

My sister was operated on the morning of October 19 at Yale New Haven Hospital. She had her mitral valve repaired by Dr. Sabet Hashim. In surgery 8:30 am out of surgery at 12:30pm. Arrived home from the hospital Thursday October 22 by 4pm. I can not say enough about the wonderful care she received.

My sister had to be hospitalized over the summer for 9 days to clear up a strep infection that led to her endocarditis. After that it was another 6 weeks of gentamiecen and penicillin which my other sister and I had to administer (the feeding we used to call them) thru a PIC line. Again the staff at Yale and the VNA service of Ct. were of tremendous help to my family during this time.

God bless themall!

By: Kaye Denham

Kaye Denham — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 03:32:47 +0000

Two weeks ago today I had aortic valve replacement (mechanical valve), an aneurysm repaired and 3 bypasses done. I was in CICU from surgery on Tuesday until Saturday morning. My oxygen level was not where they wanted and I had Atrial Fib. I received great care during my stay. My breathing tube came out sometime either late Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.

By: Lilo Amundson

Lilo Amundson — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:31:54 +0000

My husband had aortic valve replacement and maze procedure 5 weeks ago. He went into surgery at 7 am, into CCu at 1 and had the breathing tube removed by 4 pm. He was moved out of CCu after 24 hours, actually had to walk out of there with a walker. He really was not awake for the first 48 hours, fell asleep every time they put him into a chair. He had a lot less pain than we were told to expect. Total stay 8 days. Care in CCU and on the cardiac ward was superb!!