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Table of Contents
Recovery Timeline
Coping With Recovery
Wound Care
Next in Triple Bypass Surgery Guide
Verywell / Ellen Lindner
Upon discharge from the hospital you will have several follow up appointments with your healthcare providers. This will include with the surgeon and a cardiologist.
Appointments will be regular during the first year after the surgery and it is very important to keep all schedule appointments. They may be more frequent during this period, especially if there are any postoperative complications. If for any reason you are unable to make an appointment, call your healthcare provider to have it rescheduled as soon as possible. These are expected:
Expect to have follow-up appointments at least yearly following the initial appointments. Some providers will want to see patients more frequently, particularly if there are underlying medical conditions or symptoms present.
During these appointments, your healthcare provider will provide you with instructions including:
Day After Surgery
You can expect to remain in the ICU or CICU the day after surgery. If you had anendotracheal breathing tube, that will be removed and you will be taken off theventilator. Patients can also expect to:
Second Day After Surgery
You will usually be discharged three to five days after leaving the ICU. You will continue your recovery at home.
First Six Weeks
By six weeks you will start to resume some activities around the home and participate in your self care. You may resume the following activities:
After Six Weeks
After six weeks you will still be limited in your activities but will have more freedom including being able to drive. You may also resume the following activities:
After Three Months
By three months most patients are able to resume all normal activities and are encouraged to do so. Other specific activities that may resume include:
Cardiac Rehabilitation
CR reduces postoperative complications and hospital readmissions. Cardiac rehab is not only physical training but also mental, and social conditions to help slow down the progression of coronary artery disease while identifying unhealthy behaviors and risk factors that increase the patient’s overall risk.
The goals for CR include:
There are several stages to cardiac rehabilitation and goals are set with the therapist and patient. At times rehab will be hard but the goal is for you to resume your life as safely and normally as possible.
Cardiac rehab requires a prescription from your healthcare provider and may or may not be started in the hospital during the initial postoperative period.
Postoperative Depression
Multiple studies have shown that mental stress directly affects a patient’s heart health. Specific issues are:
Some tips to help your overall health include:
When to Get Help for DepressionIt’s important to know when to ask for help. Reach out to a licensed healthcare provider if you have these symptoms:Have persistent negative feelingsIncreasingly difficult time participating in your postopeative rehabilitationFeelings of harming yourself or someone elseStruggling to make a decisionChanges in your ability to care for yourselfEither not sleeping or sleeping too muchFeelings of extreme guiltFeelings of low self esteemExcessive and consistent cryingIf you or someone you know are having suicidal thoughts, dial988to contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineand connect with a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call911.
When to Get Help for Depression
It’s important to know when to ask for help. Reach out to a licensed healthcare provider if you have these symptoms:Have persistent negative feelingsIncreasingly difficult time participating in your postopeative rehabilitationFeelings of harming yourself or someone elseStruggling to make a decisionChanges in your ability to care for yourselfEither not sleeping or sleeping too muchFeelings of extreme guiltFeelings of low self esteemExcessive and consistent cryingIf you or someone you know are having suicidal thoughts, dial988to contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineand connect with a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call911.
It’s important to know when to ask for help. Reach out to a licensed healthcare provider if you have these symptoms:
If you or someone you know are having suicidal thoughts, dial988to contact the988 Suicide & Crisis Lifelineand connect with a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call911.
General incisional careincludes lightly washing the wound with mild soap and warm water daily and patting dry. Avoid scrubbing the area with a washcloth or loofah sponge. Scrubbing vigorously can open the incision.
The incision will have tape or steri strips covering it. This dressing will peel back on its own. Do not scratch or pick the incision area. It’s important to remember to avoid the following:
Patients may also have a surgical dressing on a leg from a vessel grafting. Care will need to be done for this incision as well.
Signs of InfectionCheck your incisions several times a day. Immediately notify your healthcare provider if you notice any of the following:Increased tenderness of the incision lineIncreased redness or swelling around the edges of the incision lineAny drainage from the incision lineA persistent feverPersistent leg swellingDecreased sensation in the leg with grafting siteWorsening pain despite pain medication
Signs of Infection
Check your incisions several times a day. Immediately notify your healthcare provider if you notice any of the following:Increased tenderness of the incision lineIncreased redness or swelling around the edges of the incision lineAny drainage from the incision lineA persistent feverPersistent leg swellingDecreased sensation in the leg with grafting siteWorsening pain despite pain medication
Check your incisions several times a day. Immediately notify your healthcare provider if you notice any of the following:
A Word From Verywell
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Lawton Jennifer S., Tamis-Holland Jacqueline E., Bangalore Sripal, et al.2021 ACC/AHA/SCAI guideline for coronary artery revascularization.J Am Coll Cardiol. 2022;79(2):e21-e129. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2021.09.006
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.What to expect after heart surgery.
American Heart Association.Post surgery milestones: Managing your mood, expectations and goals.
Pozuelo L.What is the role of depression in patients with cardiovascular disease?Cleveland Clinic.
Columbia University.Recovering at home after heart surgery: what to expect.
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