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What About Respirators After Open Heart Surgery?

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page Last Updated: May 10, 2025

A great patient question just came in about waking up in the intensive care unit. It reads, "Adam, when I come to (wake up) in the intensive care unit will I be on respirators after open heart surgery."

There are two possibilities here. "Yes", you will be on a respirator connected to a vent tube or breathing tube, after surgery. The other answer to this questions is... "No", you will not be on a respirator after heart surgery.

If you wake up with the ventilator tube you may or may not remember it. I know that's a little tricky but you have to remember that your mind and body will be heavily sedated from the anesthesia administered during your cardiac procedure. That said, the body will need some help "waking up". Specifically, your lungs need some help. For that reason, most patients are on respirators after open heart surgery. The respirator can also help clear any excess fluid out of the lungs.

Heart valve patient with chest tubes in the intensive care unit

My Picture Just After The Vent Tube Is Removed

As the USC Cardiothoracic website writes, "To help you breathe, an endotracheal tube (breathing tube) is inserted during surgery. This tube is connected to a respirator that assists your breathing. Because you will not be able to talk or swallow while this tube is in place, your nurse will anticipate your needs and ask you questions that require only a yes or no answer. Nod your head to say yes, and shake your head to say no. When you are fully awake and breathing on your own, the breathing tube will be removed, and you will be able to talk."

It's quite dislocating to have a plastic pipe stuck in your throat. Plus, no one told me about the vent tube prior to surgery. I had no ability to talk after surgery. Instead, I used a pen and notepad to write notes to my family. I was only awake with the breathing tube for about an hour or so. It was so liberating when they took it out.

At the same time, some surgeons are following new Enhanced Recovery After Cardiac Surgery Protocols (ERAS) in which the ventilator tube is removed while the patient is in the operating room. For example, watch this video with Dr. Marc Gerdisch to learn how and why he is removing the breathing tube while the patient is in the operating room.

I hope this helps answer the question about respirators after open heart surgery.

Keep on tickin!
Adam

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Written by Adam Pick
Patient & Website Founder

Written by Adam Pick - Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

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