Heart surgery is an intensive process. While you can trust your doctors to take good care of you, it's still important to know and understand the complications that might occur. Here is a quick list of complications that may occur after heart surgery, and what you can do to limit your risk.
Heart Surgery Recovery Complications
Here are some potential complications stemming from heart surgery:
- Reduced kidney function
- Blood clots
- Muffled or altered hearing
- Thumping sensation (louder heartbeat)
- Memory problems
- Nausea
- Chest infection
- Stroke
- Breastbone separation
- Blurry vision
There are a variety of common complications that can occur after heart surgery. You should always ask your doctor for full details on what to expect, but this is a shortlist for your reference.
While this list isn't exhaustive, and the severity of each item varies, it can be useful going into your surgery and recovery what to look out for.
Note that these complications are not guaranteed to occur, nor are they listed in order of severity or likelihood. Each patient, experience, and surgery is different, so ask your doctor for personalized details.
Understanding Complications
First, don't panic! Although some of those complications sound scary, the truth is that your doctors, nurses, and support team are more than capable of handling whatever comes up. They see difficulties every day, and, with the right tools and knowledge at their disposal, they know how to keep you safe, and, just as importantly, how to help you keep yourself healthy.
To help mitigate the risk of complications, talk to your doctor about tools and behaviors that will help your recovery. For instance, one tool doctors recommend is chest support, like a support harness that keeps your sternum and incision site safe, immobile, and comfortable while you move and breathe. Support devices don't just help you avoid complications; they speed up the healing process.
Do you want to learn more about complications after heart surgery? Are you looking for a support harness? Contact us today for all the help you need.
