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A guide before heart surgery

You just found out you need heart surgery.
This is your guide through it.

You don't have to figure this out alone. Surgeo walks you through every week — from diagnosis to surgery day.

The first days after learning you need surgery, most people feel the same things: fear of the unknown, questions with nobody to ask, nights spent searching the internet hoping for answers.

That's normal. It doesn't have to be this way.

Created with Dr. Ambrus Horvath, cardiac surgeon, University of Debrecen.

Four ways we help

First pillar

What will happen — step by step

The day of surgery isn't a mystery. Here's what you'll see and feel, walked through carefully.

From arrival to the operating room

You'll arrive early on the morning of surgery. A nurse checks you in, gives you a gown, and offers a mild sedative to help you relax. From here, everything starts to feel slower and further away — that's on purpose.

You'll be wheeled into the operating room on a bed. The room is bright, cool, and very clean. There are many people around you, each one knowing exactly what to do.

Most important

Important

Anaesthesia — what you will feel

This is the moment most people fear the most. And yet it's the simplest part — because you won't feel any of it.

The anaesthesiologist asks you to breathe deeply. You feel a warm sensation in your arm as the medicine begins. You can count to ten — but you'll probably only reach three.

No dream. No time. One moment, and then you're waking up — with hours already gone by.

Good to know: the anaesthesiologist watches your breathing and heartbeat throughout the entire operation. You are never alone, not for a second.

The first 24 hours — waking up in the ICU

When you wake up, you'll be in the intensive care unit. There will be tubes and wires on you — this is normal, and most of them come out quickly.

Speaking will be hard at first because of the breathing tube in your throat. Stay calm — it's removed soon. Your throat will feel scratchy and you'll be thirsty. You can have ice chips.

Your chest will hurt, but you can have strong pain medication. Tell the nurse if you're in pain — you don't need to be a hero.

What nobody tells you — bring these with you

  • A long charging cable (at least 2 metres)

    Hospital outlets are often far from the bed.

  • Your own slippers

    Hospital floors are cold.

  • An extra towel

    You'll want a spare within reach.

  • Easy on/off clothing — zips, not buttons

    Your arm movement will be limited.

  • A drinking straw

    Sitting up to drink is hard the first days.

  • Headphones

    The ICU is noisy.

  • Something to read or downloaded shows

    Waiting is long.

Second pillar

Calm the anxiety

Breathing exercise

4-7-8 Breathing

Breathe in for 4 seconds. Hold for 7 seconds. Breathe out for 8 seconds. Repeat three times.

Breathe in

"I woke up at 3am and couldn't stop searching the internet. Nothing helped — until I found something that actually explained what was going to happen to me. For the first time I felt like someone had thought about my journey."
— Patient, 54, Budapest, eight months after cardiac surgery

Third pillar

Recovery at home

Healing isn't linear. There are good days and harder days. Here's a week-by-week guide so you know what's ahead.

  1. 1Week 1
    • Fatigue, frequent rest
    • Mild chest pain
    • Emotional waves, crying for no reason
  2. 2Weeks 2–3
    • Energy starts returning but unevenly — good days and bad days
    • Short walks recommended, nothing strenuous
    • Driving is not yet allowed
    • Emotional sensitivity is normal — mood swings, unexpected crying
  3. 3Month 1
    • Most people feel significantly better
    • Light activity encouraged
    • Follow-up appointment with surgeon
    • Wound fully closed, scar beginning to fade
  4. 4Months 2–3
    • Return to work possible for desk jobs (confirm with your doctor)
    • Driving usually permitted after 6 weeks (confirm with your doctor)
    • Exercise can resume gradually
    • Full recovery typically complete by 3 months

What's normal vs. what's not

Normal
  • Mild pain around the scar
  • Fatigue in the afternoon
  • Occasional sadness
  • The scar itches as it heals
Call your doctor
  • Fever above 100.4°F (38°C)
  • Sudden, severe chest pain
  • Shortness of breath at rest
  • The scar is red, swollen, or leaking

Bring these to your visit

Questions worth asking your surgeon

You don't have to remember everything. Bring this list with you.

Before surgery

  • How long will the procedure take?
  • What should I stop eating or drinking, and when?
  • Which medications should I pause before surgery?
  • What will I feel when I wake up?
  • What does the ICU look like when I wake up?

After surgery

  • When can I drive again?
  • When can I return to work?
  • What does a normal recovery look like for my age and procedure?
  • What warning signs should make me call you immediately?

Fourth pillar

Ask anything

Have a question you can't find the answer to? Write to us — a real person responds within 24 hours.

Message us on WhatsApp

No question is too small.

For your family

This section is for the people who love you.

What to expect

The first days after surgery are slow. Lots of sleep, little talking. That's normal — the body is working.

How to help

Just be there, quietly. You don't need to entertain. A glass of water, adjusting a pillow — that's everything right now.

What to watch for

In case of fever, sudden severe pain, shortness of breath, or confusion, tell the doctor right away.