Heart Surgery: Discharge & Going Home

Learn the common instructions included in your discharge plan.

In a hospital, ICU stands for Intensive Care Unit. CCU stands for Coronary Care Unit. These are places with special equipment and highly trained nurses and doctors. This is where patients go after open-heart surgery or a heart attack. You're watched around the clock. The care you get here will help you recover safely and quickly. You may stay for several days, depending on the type of heart surgery and the time you need to recover. Then you may go to a regular hospital room.

Learn strategies for rating and describing your pain level to members of your cardiac team, so they can treat it.

Know the signs and symptoms that require a call to your healthcare team, and when to call 911.

Part of your healing after open heart surgery can be caring for your sternal wound. This video explains how to care for your wound, tips to avoiding infections, when to contact your healthcare provider, and recommended activity.

Watch what you can do to help prevent deep vein thrombosis while you recover at home.