Post-Op

Q.  My child had open-heart surgery and had his sternum (breastbone) closed with wire. Will he set off a metal detector?

A.  This question goes through many parents’ minds. The answer is no, if he sets off the metal detector at the airport, check his pockets for change, etc.

Q.  What happens to these wires?

A.  They stay there and the bone grows around them. They are made of stainless steel and do not rust.

Q.  What will my child’s scar look like with time?

A.  Every person’s body scar’s differently. Most scars fade to a thin white line with time. Scar tissue is more sensitive to sunlight and should be protected from sunlight for the first year after surgery. It’s recommended keeping it covered with a shirt or thick stripe of SPF 30 or higher sunscreen.

Q.  Should I put Vitamin E on my child’s incision to help it heal?

A.  We recommend keeping the incision clean and dry till it is healed and the scab is off (approximately 2 weeks). After this, it is personal preference.

Q.  What can I expect my child to act like when he comes home from the hospital?

A.  This is very variable from child to child and depends on the age of the child. Infants maybe fussy and sleep patterns may change for the first week after discharge. Toddlers are frequently "clingy" while in the hospital but this improves quickly after discharge. Older children and teenagers will be more tired than usual, perhaps even taking naps the first week after discharge. Most infants and small children’s behavior returns to normal in approximately one week after surgery, older children and teenagers take about 2 – 4 weeks for their energy level to return to baseline.

Q.  What will follow-up be like after my child is discharged?

A.  The routine is to return and see Dr. Myers (the pediatric cardiac surgeon) approximately 1 week after discharge. After this visit, follow-up will be by the pediatric cardiologists and varies in frequency depending on your child’s diagnosis and progress.