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Planning for Heart Surgery Recovery at Home

Planning for Heart Surgery Recovery

Having surgery can be stressful, but planning out all the details ahead of time can help ease some worry because you’ll know exactly what to expect. Focus on each segment of the surgery – before, during, and after – so that you and your loved ones are as prepared as possible.

This guide will cover how to prepare for your time at home after the surgery.

Heart Hugger

Before surgery, be sure to buy your Heart Hugger so that your nurses can put it on you right after surgery. This will then prepare you for using it at home.

Mobility

It’s a good idea to consider home mobility for after the surgery. For example, are there stairs or other things that can limit your movement? If you have an upstairs bedroom, move or rent a bed for downstairs use.

Heart Hugger Aids in Sternal Wound Dehiscence Prevention

Heart Hugger Aids in Sternal Wound Dehiscence Prevention

Wound dehiscence is a serious postoperative condition that can be life-threatening. Wound complications following surgery occur in approximately 2.3% of cardiac or thoracic surgery patients. While most patients will not experience serious wound dehiscence, it's important to understand and follow the proper steps to prevent its occurrence.

Wound Dehiscence Prevention

Heart Hugger Sternum Support Harness provides wound support for cardiac or thoracic surgery patients. Heart Hugger allows patients to apply pressure as needed to support the sternal wound area. The harness encircles the rib cage, and patients squeeze the handles together to apply pressure as needed.

Heart Hugger Aids in Sternal Wound Dehiscence Prevention

preventing medical complications after heart surgery

Wound dehiscence is a serious postoperative condition that can be life-threatening. Wound complications following surgery occur in approximately 2.3% of cardiac or thoracic surgery patients. While most patients will not experience serious wound dehiscence, it's important to understand and follow the proper steps to prevent its occurrence.

Wound Dehiscence Prevention

Heart Hugger Sternum Support Harness provides wound support for cardiac or thoracic surgery patients. Heart Hugger allows patients to apply pressure as needed to support the sternal wound area. The harness encircles the rib cage, and patients squeeze the handles together to apply pressure as needed.

How Heart Hugger Helps Relieve Suffering Following Heart Surgery

How Heart Hugger Helps Relieve Suffering Following Heart Surgery

As a recovery nurse, you know that reassurance is just as important as the medical care you give your patients following surgery. They've trusted medical professionals to get them through surgery, but they know that for many of the long days and weeks that follow, they'll be at home navigating the recovery process.

For many heart surgery patients, the Heart Hugger Sternum Support Harness helps them better manage their pain during recovery. And because Heart Hugger lets patients decide when to apply pressure, they feel more in control of their pain and the entire healing process.

How HEART HUGGER Helps Relieve Suffering Following Heart Surgery

man relieved of pain after heart surgery

As a recovery nurse, you know that reassurance is just as important as the medical care you give your patients following surgery. They've trusted medical professionals to get them through surgery, but they know that for many of the long days and weeks that follow, they'll be at home navigating the recovery process.

For many heart surgery patients, the Heart Hugger Sternum Support Harness helps them better manage their pain during recovery. And because Heart Hugger lets patients decide when to apply pressure, they feel more in control of their pain and the entire healing process.

Sternum Stability For Your Recovering Patients

Sternum Stabilization

As you develop relationships with your patients, as a doctor or nurse, you have to consider every aspect of their care, while also considering your medical institution's best interest. As you go through the process of your patient's care, you will want to consider the process of recovery. Each patient will recover differently, but there are recovery aids which could benefit your patients in a big way.

Part 2: Sternum Stability for Your Recovering Patients

Sternum Stabilization

In part 1 of our blog series, we went over the possible complications that accompany sternum surgery. It is unfortunately very common for postoperative complications to arise, and it is only wise and prudent for healthcare providers such as yourselves to foresee these issues and give your patients the best course of action for their immediate health. There are several different postoperative care options out there, but one that has stood out to healthcare providers is the HeartHugger. This noninvasive care option enables patients to manage their pain and recovery at a reasonable pace with relative ease.

Tips for Avoiding Sternal Dehiscence

helpful tips sign

"Complications" is one word you never want to hear--especially when it comes to recovery after heart surgery. The truth is that complications can be a concern, but when you're armed with the right information, a good healing plan, and a little bit of support, it's much easier to avoid problems like sternal dehiscence.

What You Need to Know

Healing is always a journey, which means that it can be a long and winding road sometimes. The good news is that you've got allies on your side. Your doctors and nurses will always give you clear instructions for at-home care, details on what you can and can't do, and explanations for what to expect.

Choosing the Best Postoperative Bra

Postoperative Bra

After surgery, healing is the top priority, and it has to be a team effort between mind and body. However, sometimes the body needs a little help, and that's where a postoperative bra comes in.

Postoperative Bras

Postoperative bras are garments created to offer support and comfort to a patient's entire chest after surgery--whether it's heart surgery, a mastectomy, or cosmetic reconstruction. This means that all postoperative bras are a little bit different; they must meet the varying needs of a wide variety of patients. However, the key to using a postoperative bra to speed healing and make a patient comfortable is to find the right garment for each patient's unique needs and recovery goals.

What to Look For

Our Postoperative Bra experts know how important it is to match the right garment to the right patient. Here's a quick look at what to consider!

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