About this topic
Sternal precautions are steps to take to help you heal after open heart surgery. During this surgery, your breastbone is cut in half. Once surgery is over, the breastbone is wired back in place. As you heal, you must protect the cut. This will help to avoid movement that could cause tension on the wires or let the breastbone reopen. You should follow this care for 8 to 12 weeks after your surgery. ‚
What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Take care of the wound.
- Be sure to wash your hands before touching your wound or dressing.
- Avoid using lotions or creams on your cut site for a couple of weeks after surgery.
- Hug a pillow to your chest when you cough or sneeze to help with pain.
- Stop what you are doing if you feel any pulling on your breastbone.
- Move with care.
- To stand from a sitting position, scoot forward using your shoulders to push against the back of the chair. Use your leg muscles to stand. Only use your arms for balance.
- To move from a lying down position, first roll onto your side. Then, let your legs hang over the side of the bed. Use your elbows and stomach muscles to push yourself up.
- Avoid actions that make you do any deep bending.
- Avoid actions that put pressure on your breastbone.
- Be careful using your arms.
- Limit your pushing and pulling. Do not let anyone pull on your arms when they are helping you.
- Avoid raising your arms or reaching for items above your head.
- Try not to twist your body or reach your arms around your back.
- Limit your activity.
- Talk to your doctor about when you may go back to normal activity, sports, driving, and sex.
- Avoid lifting items that weigh more than 10 pounds. A gallon of milk weighs a little over 8 pounds.
- Limit your movement during the day.
- Do not bowl, swim, golf, or play tennis for at least 12 weeks after your surgery.
- Do not use workout machines that need arm use unless your doctor has said it is OK.
- Avoid sitting in a seat that is behind an airbag for at least 4 weeks after your surgery.
- Avoid holding your breath during any activity.
- Ask for help when you need it!
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills, wound that will not heal, pain.
- Signs of wound infection. These include swelling, redness, warmth around the wound; too much pain when touched; yellowish, greenish, or bloody discharge; foul smell coming from the cut site; cut site opens up.
- You hear a clicking or cracking noise along your breastbone
- Any fall or chest injury shortly after surgery
- Pain in your legs or chest with trouble breathing
- Feelings of irregular heartbeat
- Cough that gets worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my procedure.
- I can tell you how to care for my cut site.
- I can tell you how I can move safely and the best activities for me.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have a clicking or cracking sound along my breastbone or have an injury to my chest.
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚