St Vincents Private Hospitals

Your recovery from heart valve surgery

Immediately after the operation you will be transferred to intensive care for the first 1-2 days before being transferred to the ward. You will be encouraged to get up and start walking with the physiotherapists as soon as possible. This is to prevent any blood clots or chest infections. Patients are typically discharged within seven days and your medical team will provide guidance on wound care and medication advice, follow up appointments and an individualised rehabilitation program. You may find it helpful to have someone stay with you for the first few days of your recovery. 

Your doctor may recommend that you attend a cardiac rehabilitation program to help with your general recovery from surgery. Here you will benefit from a team of trained healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses, dieticians, physiotherapists, and social workers that will all guide you through the recovery period. This dedicated team will help evaluate your personal needs, including any emotional support you may require after surgery, as well as talk to you about the tools and strategies that aim to get you back to a healthy and active lifestyle. These include:

• Any risk factors – such as smoking, diet and anxiety or depression
• Medication requirements
• What to expect at each stage of your recovery
• How your family and friends can support your rehabilitation
• How to meet your personal recovery goals
• How to avoid the risk of another cardiac event

What to look out for at home

After a significant cardiac event such as heart valve surgery, it is very common to experience emotional swings as you come to terms with what has happened and progress with your rehabilitation. Many patients feel a sense of anxiety about what the future may hold. Talk to your healthcare team and others who have experienced similar circumstances for additional comfort and reassurance. You may also experience some common physical side effects after heart valve surgery that typically include a loss of appetite, constipation, tiredness, and difficulty sleeping as well as mood swings. These should typically subside over the next six weeks. You may also notice a ticking sound in your chest, or a small swelling at the top of the wound. Contact your doctor if you experience:

• Persistent and new type of chest pain 
• Irregular heartbeat or palpitations
• Fever
• Dizziness, fainting or extreme fatigue
• Difficulty breathing
• Nausea and vomiting
• Wound infection
• Clicking or movement of the breastbone
• Weight loss or appetite change

Average Recovery Timeline

Week 1

• Keep the wound site clean and dry and adhere to the bathing instructions
• Protect your breastbone at all times by moving around as prescribed by your medical team
• Avoid heavy lifting 
• Walking for short periods is recommended 

Weeks 4-6

• Talk to your doctor about a return to driving
• Avoid any strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for 3 months
• Gradually ease back into a more active life
• You may be able to return to manual labour

A full recovery can take up to several months.

Lifestyle changes

Taking steps to protect your heart health will ensure you get the most benefit from your heart valve surgery. There is an increased risk of valve infection after this procedure (endocarditis) and so maintaining dental hygiene is extremely important as bacteria can travel from your gums through your bloodstream into your heart valve. As part of the cardiac rehabilitation program, patients will have access to dietary guidance and advice on the importance of regular exercise and how to maintain a healthy weight. Patients are strongly advised not to smoke, and to adhere to any medications as prescribed by your doctor.