Pediatric heart surgery - discharge
Definition
Your child had surgery to repair a heart defect. If your child had open-heart surgery, a surgical cut was made through the breastbone or the side of the chest. Your child also may have been put on a heart-lung bypass machine during surgery.
After the surgery, your child was probably in the intensive care unit (ICU) and then in another part of the hospital.
Alternative Names
Congenital heart surgery - discharge; Patent ductus arteriosus ligation - discharge; Hypoplastic left heart repair - discharge; Tetralogy of Fallot repair - discharge; Coarctation of the aorta repair - discharge; Heart surgery for children - discharge; Atrial septal defect repair - discharge; Ventricular septal defect repair - discharge; Truncus arteriosus repair - discharge; Total anomalous pulmonary artery correction - discharge; Transposition of great vessels repair - discharge; Tricuspid atresia repair - discharge; VSD repair - discharge; ASD repair - discharge; PDA ligation - discharge; Acquired heart disease - discharge; Heart valve surgery - children - discharge; Heart surgery - pediatric - discharge; Heart transplant - pediatric - discharge
What to Expect at Home
Your child will need at least 3 or 4 more weeks at home to recover. For larger surgeries, recovery may take 6 to 8 weeks. Talk with your child's health care provider about when your child can return to school, daycare, or take part in sports.
Pain after surgery is normal. There may be more pain after closed-heart surgery than after open-heart surgery. This is because nerves may have been irritated or cut. The pain will likely decrease after the second day and can sometimes be managed with acetaminophen (Tylenol).
Many children behave differently after heart surgery. They may be clingy, irritable, wet the bed, or cry. They may do these things even if they were not doing them before their surgery. Support your child through this time. Slowly begin to set the limits that were in place before the surgery.
Activity
For an infant, keep your child from crying for too long for the first 3 to 4 weeks. You can calm your child by staying calm yourself. When lifting your child, support both your child's head and bottom for the first 4 to 6 weeks.
Toddlers and older children will often stop any activity if they become tired.
The provider will tell you when it is OK for your child to return to school or daycare.
- Most often, the first few weeks after surgery should be a time to rest.
- After the first follow-up visit, the provider will tell you what your child can do.
For the first 4 weeks after surgery, your child should not do any activity that could result in a fall or a blow to the chest. Your child should also avoid bicycle or skateboard riding, roller skating, swimming, and all contact sports until the provider says it is OK.
Children who have had an incision through the breastbone need to be careful about how they use their arms and upper bodies for the first 6 to 8 weeks.
- Do not pull or lift your child by the arms or from their armpit area. Scoop your child up instead.
- Prevent your child from doing any activities that involve pulling or pushing with the arms.
- Try to keep your child from lifting the arms above the head.
- Your child should not lift anything heavier than 5 pounds (2 kg).
Diet
Keep a close eye on your child's diet to make sure they get enough calories to heal and grow.
After heart surgery, most babies and infants (younger than 12 to 15 months) can take as much formula or breast milk as they want. In some cases, the provider may want your baby to avoid drinking too much formula or breast milk. Limit feeding time to around 30 minutes. Your child's provider will tell you how to add extra calories to formula if it is necessary.
Toddlers and older children should be given a regular, healthy diet. The provider will tell you how to improve your child's diet after surgery.
Ask your child's provider if you have any questions about your child's nutrition.
Wound Care
Your provider will instruct you on how to care for the incisions. Look at the wound for signs of infection, such as redness, swelling, tenderness, warmth, or drainage.
Your child should take only a shower or a sponge bath until your provider says otherwise. Steri-Strips should not be soaked in water. They will begin to peel off after the first week. It is OK to remove them when they start to peel off.
For as long as the scar looks pink, make sure it is covered with clothing or a bandage when your child is in the sun.
Follow-up
Ask your child's provider before getting any immunizations for 2 to 3 months after surgery. Afterward, your child should have a flu shot every year.
Many children who have had heart surgery must take antibiotics before, and sometimes after, having any dental work. Make sure you have clear instructions from your child's heart provider about when your child needs antibiotics. It is still very important to have your child's teeth cleaned regularly.
Your child may need to take medicine when sent home. These may include diuretics (water pills) and other heart medicines. Be sure to give your child the correct dosage. Follow-up with your provider 1 to 2 weeks after the child leaves the hospital or as instructed.
When to Call the Doctor
Contact the provider if your child has:
- Fever, nausea, or vomiting
- Chest pain, or other pain
- Redness, swelling, or drainage from the wound
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Puffy eyes or face
- Tiredness all the time
- Bluish or grayish skin
- Dizziness, fainting, or heart palpitations
- Feeding problems or reduced appetite
References
Arnaoutakis DJ, Lillehei CW, Menard MT. Special techniques in pediatric vascular surgery. In: Sidawy AN, Perler BA, eds. Rutherford's Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 185.
Arora G DeBrunner M, Trucco SM. Cardiology. In: Zitelli BJ, McIntire SC, Nowalk AJ, eds. Zitelli and Davis' Atlas of Pediatric Physical Diagnosis. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 5.
Bernstein D. General principles of treatment of congenital heart disease. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, Schuh AM, Mack CL, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 483.
Well A, Fraser CD. Congenital heart disease. In: Townsend CM Jr, Beauchamp RD, Evers BM, Mattox KL, eds. Sabiston Textbook of Surgery. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 59.
Reviewed By: Michael A. Chen, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
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