Heart Hugger™ speeds recovery with less pain, provides wound support and reduced risk of complications.

Heart Hugger™ is applied in the ICU just before beginning your first respiratory therapy exercises. Squeeze the handles together when you stand up, sit in the chair in your room, go to the bathroom, when walking or when your caregiver is turning you in the bed. Anytime you have to cough or sneeze squeeze the handles together (especially when using the incentive spirometer). Heart Hugger™ should be readjusted over your street clothes and worn at home continuing to give you the wound support you need for 4-6 weeks.

After surgery, your lungs need to expand. That is why your deep breathing exercises (Respiratory Therapy) are critical to your recovery. While in surgery the ventilator was breathing for you. It caused your lungs to retain the water vapor normally expelled when you exhale. This excess water in your lungs must be expelled. Respiratory Therapy exercises and coughing help to do this. Each time you cough your lungs press outward against your ribcage and sternum in all directions (percussive expansion). This puts stress on the wound closure and can be painful. Unsupported, the wound closure is at risk of coming apart and can lead to wound complications.

Heart Hugger™ currently comes in four sizes; small, regular and large and extra-large. They are product coded as GT500, GT1000 GT1500 and GT2000 respectively.  All four sizes of Heart Hugger™ are manufactured by an experienced contract medical manufacturer in which the materials used during the manufacturing process along with the materials used in the product are Latex free.

“Over half our patients are released by the fifth post-operative day and many by the fourth post-operative day. I believe this is due in a large part to the fact that we have a device available which allows the patient to continue aggressive coughing and deep breathing at home, with much less discomfort.” “I strongly believe that the support harness has played the major role in preventing sternal wound separation.”

David G. Ellertson, M.D., Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, Modesto CA

“I am impressed that as I have followed up my patients in the office, they have continued to comment that the Heart Hugger appliance made their convalescence much easier at home, and that they have continued to use it beyond hospitalization.”

Michael F. Teodori, M.D., Pediatric & Adult Cardiovascular Surgery, Phoenix AZ

"I have been a cardiothoracic surgeon for over twenty years practicing heart surgery in Ohio. I have used the Heart Hugger on many of my patients. Recently I underwent a full sternotomy with a cardiac procedure and I learned through my experience the benefits of the Heart Hugger. The stability obtained by having the chest wall circumferentially supported with the Heart Hugger was vitally important to me when moving and changing positions. It was of most benefit during coughing and sneezing spells. I wore my Heart Hugger continuously for two weeks following surgery. At night while sleeping coughing spells were unbearable without it. I now recommend the Heart Hugger for all of my patients and request that they have it placed soon after extubation." 

Peter Pavlina, M.D., Cardiac, Thoracic & Vascular Surgery, Kettering OH

“Heart Hugger helps my patients get well faster by giving them the confidence to cough, knowing they will not suffer from doing so.”

J. Marvin Smith, M.D., Cardiovascular Surgeon, San Antonio TX

“The Heart Hugger is utilized virtually on all our heart surgery patients starting on the second post-operative day. We ran a clinical trial on 20 patients ourselves prior to usage and found the device helpful. The device allows the patient to take deeper breaths while providing both lateral and frontal support. It is also particularly helpful in allowing the patient to get in and out of bed without assistance, thus lessening the complication of immobilizations.

Armida Fournell, R.N., Cardiac Rehab Coordinator, Fullerton, CA

“I have been an open heart nurse for the past 15 years. I’ve done the sheets folded in a pillow case . . . the sternal pillows . . . I’ve instructed to hug and have hugged at times! In my opinion, none of these procedures can compete with Heart Hugger. As a clinican I have seen the difference in my patient’s faces, progress and use of pain medication.”

Jannett D. Ammons, R.N., BSN, Nurse Educator, Lorain, OH

“I have used the support harness in over 100 consecutive open heart surgical patients . . . I had enough time to observe its efficacy when compared with the other conventional methods of chest protection including holding a pillow. I find the patients who have used this harness are able to take deeper breaths and cough much more effectively. I also see that the patients have excellent pain relief . . . I clearly am in favor of using Heart Hugger on a routine basis.”

Ravi Koopot, M.D., Cardiovascular Surgery, Phoenix AZ

“I am writing on behalf of my patients who use the device called the Heart Hugger. It has been such a positive asset to their recovery. I recommend and prescribe it for all my open heart patients. This device has been particularly beneficial to the patients who are undergoing repeat coronary artery bypass grafting or valve replacements. They testify that their recoveries have been much quicker while using Heart Hugger compared to prior surgeries when the device was not available.”

S. Vathayanon, M.D., Cardiac, Vascular & Thoracic Surgery, Fresno CA

“To prevent dehiscence and to reduce pain postoperatively…hospitals issue heart-shaped pillows and teddy bears for the purpose, this splints the wound in one plane only. One case of unusual sternal non-union . . . led the physical therapy team on our cardiac rehabilitation unit to investigate a more effective mechanical means to stabilize the thoracic cage. The principle method employed was a relatively inexpensive sternum support harness, Heart Hugger, which was used by patients with complaints of sternal pain, or with signs of wound dehiscence or instability . . . Since the patient can wear the harness continuously it has the advantage of being available when the need arises, for instance, during therapy, or when the patient wakes up at night.”

Peg Meisler, Physical Therapist, West Haverstraw, NY