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"When I Wake Up In The ICU, How Many Tubes Will Be Sticking Out Of Me?" Asks Gwen

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page Last Updated: May 11, 2025

I just received a fantastic question from Gwen about waking up in the intensive care unit after heart valve surgery.

She writes, "Adam - Thanks so much for all your help. While I'm still anxious, your support has made me feel somewhat ready for my upcoming heart valve operation. I have one more question for you about the intensive care unit. When I wake up from surgery, exactly how many tubes are going to be sticking in/out of me? Keep on tickin! Gwen"

Interestingly enough, this question triggered a very, very, very unique memory for me.

Tubes in heart surgery patient while in the intensive care unit

Me (Adam) In The Intensive Care Unit

So you know... My doctors and nurses did not explicitly detail the patient experience within the intensive care unit. Looking back on it, that would have really helped manage my expectation as I came out of general anesthesia.

The first thing I noticed when I woke up from my heart valve surgery was, in fact, a tube... the ventilator tube. (Yes, I was one of the lucky patients that woke up with the vent tube still in place.)

Then, as I continued to regain consciousness, I continued to see more-and-more tubes. As the picture above shows, even after the vent tube was removed, there were two chest tubes, my I.V. drip and another tube sticking out of my neck.

In total, I remember five tubes.

Whoops. Wait. I'm wrong. There was one more tube.

How on Earth could I forget the urinary catheter? :)

Ok. The count just increased to six tubes. There you have it. In my experience, there were six tubes sticking in/out of my body after heart surgery.

But, please remember, in addition to the tubes... There will also be several important wires scattered on-and-around your body as you wake up. To illustrate this point, here is a great picture I just received from Charles. FYI, Charles appropriately titled this picture, You Figure It Out!

Patient in intensive care unit with ventilator in

Charles In The Intensive Care Unit

I hope this helps Gwen (and perhaps you) learn a little more about the reality of waking up in the intensive care unit after heart surgery.

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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