After the Procedure:

Most children who have open-heart surgery need to stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) for 2 to 4 days right after surgery. They usually stay in the hospital for 5 to 7 more days after they leave the ICU. Stays in the intensive care unit and the hospital are usually shorter for patients who have closed-heart surgery.

During their time in the ICU, your child will have:

• A tube in the airway (endotracheal tube) and a respirator to help with breathing. Your child will be kept sleeping (sedated) while on the respirator.
• One or more small tubes in a vein (IV line) to give fluids and medicines
• A small tube in an artery (arterial line)
• One or 2 chest tubes to drain air, blood, and fluid from the chest cavity
• A tube through the nose into the stomach (nasogastric tube) to empty the stomach and deliver medicines and feedings for several days
• A tube in the bladder to drain and measure the urine for several days
• Many electrical lines and tubes used to monitor the child

By the time your child leaves the ICU, most of the tubes and wires will be removed. Your child will be encouraged to start many of their regular daily activities. Some children may begin eating or drinking on their own within 1 or 2 days, but others may take longer.

When your child is discharged from the hospital, parents and caregivers are taught what activities are okay for their child to do, how to care for the incision, and how to give medicines their child may need.

Your child needs at least several more weeks at home to recover. Talk with your doctor about when your child can return to school or daycare.

Your child will need follow-up visits with a cardiologist (heart doctor) every 6 to 12 months. Your child may need to take antibiotics before going to the dentist for teeth cleaning or other dental procedures, to prevent serious heart infections. Ask the cardiologist if this is necessary.

Outlook (Prognosis):

The outcome of heart surgery depends on the child's condition, the type of defect, and the type of surgery that was done. Many children recover completely and lead normal, active lives.