--- title: Common Complications After Heart Surgery description: Though your doctor will provide you with specific information about recovery, here are some common complications that you can watch out for after surgery. image: https://blog.hearthugger.com/hubfs/doctor-patient.jpg --- [![Tribute Media](https://blog.hearthugger.com/hubfs/Heart_Hugger_April2018%20Theme/Images/logo.png)](https://www.hearthugger.com) - [Contact](https://www.hearthugger.com/contact) toll free 800.798.2667 outside the U.S.408.395.2100 [![Home](https://blog.hearthugger.com/hubfs/logo-icon.png)](https://www.hearthugger.com) - [About Heart Hugger](https://www.hearthugger.com/about-heart-hugger) - [What is Heart Hugger](https://www.hearthugger.com/what-heart-hugger) - [Why Heart Hugger](https://www.hearthugger.com/why-heart-hugger) - [How To Use](https://www.hearthugger.com/how-to-use) - [Sizing and Fitting](https://www.hearthugger.com/sizing-and-fitting) - [Surgi Support Vest](https://www.hearthugger.com/surgi-support-vest) - [For Patients](https://www.hearthugger.com/patients) - [Heart Health](https://www.hearthugger.com/heart-health) - [Preparing for Surgery](https://www.hearthugger.com/preparing-for-surgery) - [After Your Surgery](https://www.hearthugger.com/after-your-surgery) - [Complications & Solutions](https://www.hearthugger.com/complications-solutions) - [Respiratory Complications](https://www.hearthugger.com/respiratory-complications) - [Sternal Wound Complications](https://www.hearthugger.com/sternal-wound-complications) - [Sternal Wound Stability (and the Pillow)](https://www.hearthugger.com/sternal-wound-stability) - [FAQs](https://www.hearthugger.com/faqs) - [For Healthcare Professionals](https://www.hearthugger.com/healthcare-professionals) - [Studies & Resources](https://www.hearthugger.com/studies-and-resources) - [Economic Implications of Complications](https://www.hearthugger.com/economic-implications-of-complications) - [Patient Compliance & The Clinical Pathway](https://www.hearthugger.com/patient-compliance-and-the-clinical-pathway) - [Tradeshows](https://www.hearthugger.com/tradeshows) - [How to Purchase](https://www.hearthugger.com/how-to-purchase) - [Find a Rep in Your Area](https://www.hearthugger.com/request-rep-information) - [Request Sample](https://www.hearthugger.com/request-sample) - [FDA & Medicare](https://www.hearthugger.com/fda-and-medicare) - [Blog](https://www.hearthugger.com/blog) - [Buy Now](https://www.hearthugger.com/products) *menu* menu [800.798.2667](tel:+18007982667) # Common Complications After Heart Surgery Posted by [Heart Hugger](https://blog.hearthugger.com/author/heart-hugger) on Dec 10, 2019 12:03:51 PM ![Doctor and senior male patient discussing complications and risks in hospital room](https://blog.hearthugger.com/hs-fs/hubfs/doctor-patient.jpg?width=1240&name=doctor-patient.jpg "Doctor and senior male patient discussing complications and risks in hospital room") 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](https://blog.hearthugger.com/things-to-expect-during-heart-surgery-recovery). 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](https://www.hearthugger.com/what-heart-hugger) 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](https://www.hearthugger.com/contact) today for all the help you need. - Please Share: [Heart Surgery Recovery](https://blog.hearthugger.com/topic/heart-surgery-recovery) [After Heart Surgery](https://blog.hearthugger.com/topic/after-heart-surgery) ![Heart Hugger](https://blog.hearthugger.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Heart_Hugger_April2018%20Theme/Images/logo-icon.png?width=100&height=100&name=logo-icon.png) #### Written by [Heart Hugger](https://blog.hearthugger.com/author/heart-hugger) ### Please Leave a Comment: - Recent - Popular - Tags - [Heart Surgery Recovery (22)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/heart-surgery-recovery) - [After Heart Surgery (16)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/after-heart-surgery) - [Postoperative Care (15)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/postoperative-care) - [Heart Health (12)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/heart-health) - [Sternum Stabilization (9)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/sternum-stabilization) - [Caring for Patients (8)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/caring-for-patients) - [cardiac rehab (7)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/cardiac-rehab) - [Sternal Dehiscence (6)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/sternal-dehiscence) - [Preparing for Heart Surgery (5)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/preparing-for-heart-surgery) - [Respiratory Splinting (4)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/respiratory-splinting) - [Postoperative Bra (3)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/postoperative-bra) - [sternotomy (3)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/sternotomy) - [Heart Healthy Diet (2)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/heart-healthy-diet) - [Managing Pain After Heart Surgery (2)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/managing-pain-after-heart-surgery) - [Support Device (2)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/support-device) - [Hospital Safety (1)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/hospital-safety) - [Patient Safety (1)](https://blog.hearthugger.com/tag/patient-safety) see all ©2018  General Cardiac Technology, Inc. 6489 Camden Ave Suite 106 San Jose CA 95120 800.798.2667 Phone 408.395.2100 (outside the U.S) Fax: 408.395.2113 powered by Tribute Media [a web marketing agency](https://www.tributemedia.com) | [login](https://www.hearthugger.com/user) - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/hearthugger) - [Twitter](https://twitter.com/Heart_Hugger) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/heart-hugger) [Top](https://blog.hearthugger.com/heart-surgery-recovery-complications#top) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "NewsArticle", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Heart Hugger" }, "datePublished" : "2019-12-10T20:03:51+0000 ", "description" : "Though your doctor will provide you with specific information about recovery, here are some common complications that you can watch out for after surgery.", "headline" : "Common Complications After Heart Surgery", "image" : [ "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/4072946/doctor-patient.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.hearthugger.com/heart-surgery-recovery-complications", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/4072946/apple-touch-icon-144x144.png" }, "name" : "General Cardiac Technology, Inc." } } ```