About the Treatment Method
Surgery Stages and Recovery
In open heart surgeries, in order for the surgeon to perform very fine and precise suturing on the heart (for example, suturing a millimetric blood vessel), the heart must be completely motionless and bloodless. The heart-lung machine is a vital life support unit that takes over the body's need for oxygen and blood circulation when they stop the heart, keeping the patient alive throughout the operation.
Depending on the magnitude of the intervention to be performed (for example, a single-vessel bypass is different from performing a 4-vessel bypass and valve replacement simultaneously), the duration of the surgery takes an average of 3 to 6 hours.
The breastbone (sternum) is securely joined together with special steel wires at the end of the surgery. It takes about 6 to 8 weeks for the bone to fully fuse and regain its former strength. During this period, it is extremely important for patients to lie on their back, not lift heavy objects, and avoid sudden movements.
At the end of the operation, the patient is taken to the Cardiovascular Surgery Intensive Care unit in a sedated state and is usually closely monitored there for 1-2 days. If everything is fine, they are moved to a normal ward and generally discharged and sent home for rest after an average of 5 to 7 days in total.
The information on this page is for general health advice. Please consult specialized physicians for personalized treatment or advice.
