Open Chest Maze Procedure

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Open chest maze procedure is heart surgery done to treat atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is an irregular and often rapid heartbeat. It is caused by fast random electrical messages to the heart muscle. The maze procedure makes a new heartbeat pathway that is shaped like a maze. The new pathway stops random messages and helps the heart to have a regular beat and normal rate. This procedure decreases your risk of stroke. The open chest maze procedure is usually done when other open heart surgery is needed.

AFTER YOU LEAVE:

Medicines:

• Pain medicine: You may need medicine to take away or decrease pain.
  
  
  • Learn how to take your medicine. Ask what medicine and how much you should take. Be sure you know how, when, and how often to take it.
    
    
  • Do not wait until the pain is severe before you take your medicine. Tell caregivers if your pain does not decrease.
    
    
  • Pain medicine can make you dizzy or sleepy. Prevent falls by calling someone when you get out of bed or if you need help.
  
  
• Heart medicine: This medicine is given to strengthen or regulate your heartbeat.
  
  
• Diuretics: This medicine is given to decrease edema (excess fluid) that collects in a part of your body, such as your legs. Diuretics can also remove excess fluid from around your heart or lungs and decrease your blood pressure. It is often called water pills. You may urinate more often when you take this medicine.
  
  
• Blood pressure medicine: This is given to lower your blood pressure. A controlled blood pressure helps protect your organs, such as your heart, lungs, brain, and kidneys. Take your blood pressure medicine exactly as directed.
  
  
• Warfarin: This medicine helps prevent clots from forming in the blood. Clots can cause strokes, heart attacks, and death. Warfarin may cause you to bleed or bruise more easily. Use a soft washcloth and an electric razor. Watch for blood in your urine and bowel movements. You may need to change your diet. Warfarin works best when you eat the same amount of vitamin K every day. Vitamin K is found in leafy green vegetables. Talk to your primary healthcare provider if you have questions or concerns about this medicine.
  
  
• Take your medicine as directed. Call your primary healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not helping or if you have side effects. Tell him if you are allergic to any medicine. Keep a list of the medicines, vitamins, and herbs you take. Include the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits. Carry your medicine list with you in case of an emergency.

Ask for information about where and when to go for follow-up visits:

For continuing care, treatments, or home services, ask for more information.

Heart rhythm checks:

You may need to be monitored for arrhythmias. This will let your cardiologist or primary healthcare provider know about problems with the rate or rhythm of your heartbeat. Ask your cardiologist or primary healthcare provider for more information about the following:

• You may need to use a heart monitor at home after your procedure. The monitoring may be done for a period of time such as a week or at regular times such as every month until your heart rhythm is regular. The device used to monitor your heart may be called an event monitor, Holter monitor, or mobile telemetry.
  
  
• You may be taught how to check your pulse (heartbeat).

Daily weight:

Too much body fluid causes problems with your heart and lungs. Weight gain can be a sign of extra fluid in your body. Check your weight daily and write the results down. Keep track of how much your weight changes each day.

Wound care:

Ask your primary healthcare provider how to care for your incision. Check your incision, clean it, and change the bandages as directed. If the bandage gets dirty or falls off, put on a new one. Ask when you can shower or bathe. You will need to keep your incisions covered so they do not get wet.

Activity and rest:

You may feel like resting more after surgery. Slowly start to do more each day. Rest when you feel you need to.

• Normal daily activities: Ask your primary healthcare provider when it is safe to return to your normal daily activities. You may need to wait 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. Your primary healthcare provider will tell you which activities you should avoid after your surgery. These may include driving while you are taking pain medicines. You may also be told not to lift objects that are over a certain weight.
  
  
• Walking and other exercise: Walking is a good way to improve your overall health and help you recover after surgery. It also helps keep your blood flowing and reduces the risk of blood clots. Other types of exercise can also be an important part of your recovery. Ask about exercises that are safe for you.

Do not smoke:

If you smoke, it is never too late to quit. Ask for information about how to stop smoking if you need help.

Reduce arrhythmia risk factors:

High blood pressure, sleep apnea (pauses in breathing while asleep), and obesity increase your risk of arrhythmias. Talk to your primary healthcare provider about ways to prevent or manage these risk factors.

Contact your cardiologist or primary healthcare provider if:

• Your pulse does not feel regular when you check it.
  
  
• You are urinating less or less often than usual.
  
  
• Your arm or leg feels warm, tender, and painful. It may look swollen and red.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your procedure, medicine, or care.

Seek care immediately if:

• You have chest pain or pain when you take a deep breath or cough.
  
  
• You have trouble breathing.
  
  
• You suddenly feel lightheaded.
  
  
• Call 911 or an ambulance if you have any signs of a heart attack:
  
  
  • Discomfort in the center of your chest that feels like squeezing, pressure, fullness, or pain, that lasts for more than a few minutes or keeps returning
    
    
  • Discomfort or pain in your back, neck, jaw, stomach, or one or both of your arms
    
    
  • Feeling sick to your stomach
    
    
  • Having trouble breathing
    
    
  • A sudden cold sweat, particularly in combination with chest discomfort or trouble breathing
    
    
  • Feeling very lightheaded or dizzy, particularly in combination with chest discomfort or trouble breathing
  
  
• You have signs of a stroke: The following signs are an emergency. Call 911 immediately if you have any of the following:
  
  
  • Weakness or numbness in your arm, leg, or face (may be on only one side of your body)
    
    
  • Confusion and problems speaking or understanding speech
    
    
  • A very bad headache that may feel like the worst headache of your life
    
    
  • Not being able to see out of one or both of your eyes
    
    
  • Feeling too dizzy to stand