Up to 1 week prior to surgery you will be asked to attend the Alexandra hospital for a few hours – to have some blood tests, X-rays, an ECG tracing and some swabs. You will then be admitted to the Hospital, usually the day before surgery. That evening you will be seen by the surgeon and the anaesthetist and again be given plenty of opportunity to ask any outstanding questions.

On the day of surgery you will be given a pre-med and taken to the operating theatre. After surgery you will initially be looked after on the intensive care unit. You are usually asleep on the intensive care unit for only a few hours but remain on the unit for the first night after your surgery. The day after surgery you are moved out to one of the wards. People usually remain in bed only until the second day after surgery. You then mobilise gradually around the ward with the assistance of the physiotherapy and nursing staff. Some people are ready to be discharged home by the 5^th day after surgery, the majority go home on the 7^th day after surgery, and some need to stay in for a little longer.

Before being discharged from hospital you will have received information about what you should and should not do after surgery, as well as receiving general information about how to look after your heart. Obviously a heart operation is major surgery and many people get aches and pains and other minor problems in the few weeks after surgery. The Alexandra hospital has a helpline to assist with any such problems. We usually see patients back in the outpatient department 6 weeks after surgery. By this time most peoples wounds are healed and they are fully mobile; most people can walk miles by this stage after surgery. We will check that everything is going to plan and organise any further medical appointments as appropriate.

People who undergo heart surgery should not drive for six weeks after their operation. It is usual to take three months off work after surgery, but some people go back sooner.

Most people who undergo open-heart surgery find it useful to undertake a cardiac rehabilitation program. This consists of a series of meetings and exercise classes. This can be organised at the Alexandra Hospital, or most local district general hospitals.