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"What Are Those Big Heart-Shaped Pillows Used For?" Asks Alice

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page Last Updated: May 12, 2025

Alice just sent me a great question about the use of heart-shaped pillows after heart valve surgery. She writes, "Hi Adam, I'm 61-years old and preparing for a mitral valve repair due to mitral regurgitation disease. I can't help but notice the huge pillows clutched by patients in several photos across your website. What are those used for? Thanks, Alice"

In case you have yet to see them, here are four pictures of heart valve surgery patients (David Swendson, Anita Devine, Carla Hansen and John Turan) which feature these unique, heart-shaped pillows.

Patients holding big red pillows after heart surgery

Heart Valve Surgery Patients - David Swendson,
Anita Devine, Carla Hansen & John Turan

To answer Alice's question... These pillows are typically offered to patients for sternum support while coughing after surgery. As you may know, during most heart valve procedures, select breathing and circulatory functions are simulated using a ventilator and a heart-lung machine. Unfortunately, vapor can settle in the patient's lungs.

Heart Surgery Patient With Big Red Pillow

Patients use an incentive spirometer (shown below) to reduce lung vapor and restore proper lung function in the hours, the days and the weeks after surgery.

Incentive Spirometer - Used To Restore
Lung Function After Heart Valve Surgery

Often times, the vapor is coughed up in the form of phlegm. As you cough, the lungs can expand putting pressure on your sternum and rib cage. Ultimately, coughing can stress the sternal wires that hold your chest together. If the coughing pressure is not properly supported, pain and other complications can occur.

To negate these unwanted patient experiences, heart-shaped pillows are used to support the patient's chest as they cough. As Dr. Eric Roselli, staff surgeon from the Cleveland Clinic, shared with me:

Dr. Eric Roselli

It certainly is critically important to cough and sigh and take deep breaths during the recovery phase to recruit alveoli, the small air filled spaces in the lung, to optimize full lung expansion and thereby reduce the risks of pneumonia, pleural effusions and other respiratory complications. Breathing deeply and coughing can be difficult after chest surgery because of incisional pain. The pillows (we also have ones shaped like lungs for those having undergone lung surgery) help to give the patients some comfort when doing the respiratory exercises.

Additionally, these pillows are sometimes used by patients while driving -- to protect their sensitive sternums against the discomfort of seat belts.

Red pillow protecting patient from car seatbelt

I hope this helps Alice (and perhaps you) learn more about the use of heart-shaped pillows after heart valve 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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