Patient guide
Recovery after heart surgery
The operation is over — caring for your heart continues. Here is how recovery after heart surgery goes: in hospital, during the first weeks at home and over the first year.
After surgery you want to get home as soon as possible, back to your family and your usual routine. Along with relief come questions: why am I still short of energy, how much can I walk, how do I care for the wound, when can I go back to work?
Understanding what is happening in your body and what comes next is an important part of recovery. We have put together general guidance for the Center's patients to help you make sense of your discharge summary and plan your rehabilitation.
The first days after surgery: recovery in hospital
In the first hours after open heart surgery, the patient is moved to the intensive care unit. This is a standard stage of treatment: the medical team continuously monitors heart function, breathing, blood pressure and other vital signs. Monitors, catheters and drains help track your condition and deliver treatment — as you recover, they are no longer needed.
Rehabilitation starts while you are still in hospital. When your condition allows, the team helps you take your first steps: gradually sitting up, standing and walking. After chest surgery, breathing exercises play an important role. Activity is tailored to you — you do not need to push through severe pain or marked weakness. Tell us how you feel so that we can help.
Before discharge: make sure you understand
Before you leave, we will prepare recommendations on medication, physical activity, wound care and further tests. Make sure you know:
- which medicines to take, at what dose and for how long;
- which readings to monitor at home;
- what activity is allowed and what restrictions apply;
- when to have tests and see a doctor;
- which changes in how you feel mean you should seek help.
If anything is unclear, do not hesitate to ask. It matters that you go home with a clear plan.
The first weeks at home: advice after discharge
After major surgery, everyday tasks can tire you more than before. Appetite, sleep and mood may change — your body needs time. Do not compare your pace with other patients: follow your doctor's advice and listen to how you feel.
Build up activity gradually
Start with the walks and exercises you have been allowed, alternating activity with rest. Increase duration and intensity according to the plan agreed with your doctor.
Take your prescribed medicines
Feeling well does not mean you no longer need them. Do not stop them or change the dose on your own. If you have side effects or trouble taking them, contact your doctor.
Look after the surgical wound
Follow the dressing and hygiene advice you were given. Check before discharge when the stitches come out, when you can shower and whether you need a chest support vest.
Keep a health diary
Record your blood pressure, pulse and any other readings your doctor asked you to monitor. Note new symptoms and questions — this helps at your next appointment.
Let your family help
In the first days at home, help with shopping, cooking and housework is useful. With your consent, a family member can join your conversation with the doctor.
The advice on this page is general guidance. Your recovery is based on the individual plan in your discharge summary.
How long does recovery after heart surgery take
Recovery time depends on the type of procedure, the condition of the heart, age, other illnesses and how the post-operative period goes.
- About 2–3 months
Coronary artery bypass grafting
Full recovery after coronary artery bypass grafting often takes about two to three months. Some everyday activities can be resumed earlier — as you recover and following your doctor's advice.
- A different path
Stenting and ablation
After stenting, radiofrequency ablation and other catheter procedures, recovery follows a different path. Your doctor will set out the timing and restrictions in your discharge summary.
- Device check
Pacemaker implantation
After pacemaker implantation you need specific advice: how the implant site heals, what activity is safe and when to have the device checked.
What you are allowed to do depends not only on the number of days since surgery but also on your condition.
Warning signs after surgery: when to seek help
Call an ambulance — 103 or 112
Do not wait for a reply to a message or for a scheduled appointment if you have:
- sudden severe or pressing chest pain that does not go away, especially with cold sweat, nausea or shortness of breath;
- marked breathlessness at rest, fainting or a sharp deterioration;
- sudden difficulty speaking, a drooping face, or weakness in an arm or leg;
- heavy bleeding.
Contact your doctor without delay if:
- you have a fever or chills;
- pain is getting worse;
- the wound is red or has discharge;
- you notice new or stronger palpitations;
- swelling, breathlessness or weakness is increasing;
- blood pressure, pulse or other readings are outside the limits in your discharge summary.
These changes need medical assessment. If you get markedly worse, call an ambulance.
Stay in touch with the Center's team
During the first month after discharge, get in touch with the team at the times given in your discharge summary — this is key to a safe recovery. At home, questions come up that you did not have in hospital. Write them down and discuss them with your doctor: you do not have to figure everything out on your own.
Patients who live outside Saint Petersburg and the Leningrad Region can book a paid online consultation with a doctor. During the video call you can discuss your post-operative advice, go through test results, ask about recovery and understand what the next step should be.
The online consultation is for information only: it does not include a diagnosis, prescribing medication or issuing a medical report. If you need an examination, tests or a change in treatment, the doctor will explain where to go.
Cardiology follow-up after surgery
Once the wounds have healed and you have more energy, heart monitoring continues. Its purpose is to preserve the result of treatment, keep the condition under control and maintain your quality of life.
- Agree a plan for the first year after surgery with your cardiologist, including tests and visits at six and twelve months. After that, how often you are seen depends on your condition and the procedure you had.
- After valve replacement, pacemaker implantation and some other operations, special checks may be needed.
- If you take warfarin, monitor your INR on the schedule set by your doctor.
- You can also be followed up locally. Keep your discharge summaries and test results so that doctors can track changes over time.
Life after heart surgery: common questions
Full recovery after bypass surgery often takes about two to three months. Some everyday activities can be resumed earlier — as you recover and following your doctor's advice. Timing depends on the condition of the heart, age, other illnesses and how the post-operative period goes.
No. Feeling well does not mean you no longer need them. Do not stop them or change the dose on your own. If you have side effects or trouble taking them, contact your doctor.
It depends on the type of operation, the nature of your work, how you feel and the medicines you take. After surgery through the breastbone, how it is healing is also taken into account. Discuss the timing with your doctor before going back to work or driving.
Physical activity is part of recovery, but the load must match your condition. Ask your doctor which activities are allowed and whether a cardiac rehabilitation programme is right for you. Returning to the gym and intensive training needs separate approval.
There is no single timeframe for every patient. The doctor considers the specifics of the procedure, tissue healing, how you tolerate exertion and the risk of complications. If you are planning a trip, discuss it with your doctor in advance.
Yes — after you have recovered and following your doctor's advice. You can raise this at your appointment: it matters for quality of life just as much as sleep, work and physical activity.
Tell your doctor. After serious treatment it can be hard to trust your body and to tell normal sensations from dangerous symptoms. A clear plan, support from loved ones and answers from the medical team help you feel more confident.
Our shared goal is to help you get back to your normal life and keep your heart healthy for many years. Start with the next step: check the advice in your discharge summary and book your next appointment with your doctor.
Operations at our Center
- Coronary artery bypass graftingRestores blood flow to the heart, bypassing narrowed arteries, improving the condition of coronary heart disease.Learn more
- Minimally invasive valve replacementA low-traumatic heart valve replacement surgery that accelerates recovery and reduces pain.Learn more
- Aortic prosthesisSurgery to replace the affected area of the aorta, preventing rupture of the aneurysm.Learn more
- Coronary artery stentingMinimally invasive surgery that restores blood flow in the arteries of the heart, preventing heart attacks and other complications.Learn more
- Radiofrequency ablationMinimally invasive treatment of arrhythmias that restores a normal heart rhythm.Learn more
- Pacemaker implantationInstallation of a heart rate monitoring device in patients with bradycardia.Learn more
Still have questions?
Book an online talk or get in touch with our administrators. We'll help you choose the right specialist, answer any organizational questions, and explain how to prepare for the consultation.