What to Expect

When you receive a referral to one of our cardiac surgeons, you will call our office to schedule your consultation. At that time, we will ask for information to add you to our system. It might seem like we need a lot of data, but the information we request is to ensure the best surgical treatment and medical care.

We get the information we need through forms that will be emailed to you, and you can send them back or bring those to your initial appointment. The information we need may include:

• Driver’s license or other form of ID
• Insurance card
• Written referral form from your referring physician
• List of any medications
• Medical history
• Any physicians, other than your referring physician, you are currently seeing

Our front office staff and in-house billing specialist will help you navigate any questions you have about your insurance plan's deductible, co-pay, or out of pocket expenses as it pertains to our billing practices. Deductibles or office copays are typically due at the time of your appointment.

After your initial consultation, we’ll begin to schedule any tests needed before the surgery, such as bloodwork, ultrasounds, and CT scans. We’ll also reach out to your insurance company to get approval for the procedures and surgery.

Following completion of all tests, we’ll determine a surgery date with the hospital. Once you have a date on the calendar, if you will be filing FMLA or disability paperwork, we’ll need that to complete and submit. We will also provide you with written copies of all the instructions you need to have a successful operation, including any pre-op care or preparation.

Be sure to follow the written instructions you are given for the day of surgery.

The hospital will require you to pay your deductible prior to being admitted, which may mean you will receive a refund after we have billed insurance for surgery and the hospital has billed insurance for your stay. Our in-house billing specialist can help you navigate any questions you have about your insurance plan's deductible, co-pay, or out of pocket expenses as it pertains to our billing practices.

You will be provided with a printed list of detailed instructions on wound care, reminder of sternal precautions, and an updated medication reconciliation. We encourage families to be present for the nurse review of this paperwork to handle any clarifications and questions/concerns prior to discharge.

Before you are released from the hospital, your caseworker will review any specific post-operative care you may need, both in an extended rehab facility or in-home care, including equipment or skilled nursing care. Their job is to set you and your family up for success, so be sure to ask questions and follow their recommendations.

Once you are home, we recommend scheduling your post-op follow-up appointments with your cardiologist and our office. It can take two to four weeks to get on the calendar, so calling right away once you are home will help to minimize any delays. In most cases, you’ll only need one follow-up appointment with our office, approximately two to four weeks after surgery, after which you will continue care with your referring physician.

It is normal to be tired, have a poor appetite, or not sleep well for several weeks up to a couple of months following your surgery.

Following valve surgery, please wait six months to schedule any routine dental work or elective procedure (including urology procedures or endoscopy).

It is important you call us with concerns about your incision, not your primary care doctor or cardiologist.

If you have any concerns about the care or appearance of your surgical incision, please call our office at (480) 248-3000.

Sternal precautions following open-heart surgery

• Do not lift more than 10 pounds (for reference, a gallon of milk is 8.6 pounds).
• Do not apply any creams or ointments to your incisions.
• Do not push, pull, or twist your body. If you feel pulling or stretching in your chest area, stop what you are doing and do not repeat that motion.
• Do not lift your arms higher than your head other than to wash your hair in the shower.
• Brace your chest when coughing or sneezing. This is vital for the first two weeks you are home.
• Do not drive until you are cleared by your surgeon.
• Avoid swimming or immersing your body in water (i.e., pool, hot tub, bathtub) for three months following surgery.
• Report any clicking or popping noises around your chest bone area to your surgeon.
• Report any drainage, erythema, or blistering that occurs along the incision.