Open Heart Surgery Recovery – Pain Management

Open heart surgery is one of the most intense surgical experiences that one can endure and recovery can be quite extensive and protracted. Proper preparation for recovery from open heart surgery is essential to regaining a previous level of activity, reducing complications, and achieving the full benefits of the procedure. Sometimes open heart surgery is unexpected, however, such as in the case of penetrating chest trauma or acute mediastinitis. In cases such as these, open heart surgery recovery becomes making the best of a difficult situation. This article provides some of the pain management issues to expect during open heart surgery recovery and how to handle them as they arise.

 

 

Part of the reason that open heart surgery is so intense is that the breastbone is cut and the rib cage is separated. A vertical incision is made completely through the sternum (breastbone) so that the surgeon can gain access to the heart and great vessels. During the rib spreading process there is disruption of the ribs where they connect along the spine. Combined, these manipulation mean that the entire chest is sore for quite some time.

 

Adequate pain control is important in the early period after open heart surgery. While the patient is recovering in the hospital, pain is often controlled by means of a PCA pump. PCA stands for Patient Controlled Analgesia. The system delivers a small dose of pain medication into a vein each time the patient presses a button. Thus the patient can self-administer a sufficient dose of pain medicine up to a predetermined limit.

 

Once the major discomfort of open heart surgery recovery subsides, the patient is transitioned to oral pain medication in advance of leaving the hospital. Having enough pain medication is important. Physicians understand that a patient will have surgical pain long after the procedure and they will prescribe ample medicine. Part of open heart surgery recovery is to have someone that you can count on to fill the prescription. Pharmacies take special care with pain medication since it can be abused and has value when sold illegally on the street. Ideally you should fill the prescription at the hospital pharmacy before you leave the hospital so that you can take it with you when you return home.

 

A final word on addiction to pain medication: it is often the case that patients of a major illness or event such as open heart surgery worry that they will become dependent on opioid pain medication (like morphine and related drugs). While there is always some potential of developing a dependence on morphine-like drugs, the chances of opioid dependence occurring in a patient that has had open heart surgery is fairly small. If you have questions about opioid dependence, talk to your surgeon or anesthesiologist. The best advice may come from a pain management specialist, a type of physician that is available is most major hospitals and in private practice. Open heart surgery is a major ordeal and controlling pain will allow you perform the physical therapy and rehabilitation necessary to make a full recovery.