How long did your surgery last?

[Angel]

Again, just curious. If you had AVR surgery, how long did your surgery last, and when did you wake up enough to have the ventilator tube taken out?

 

[ARGreenMN]

I think they say it can take anywhere from a couple hrs to 6 hrs - with it typically being in the 3-4 hr range. And they warn your family, that even after it's over, it may be a while before the doc comes out to tell them it went fine - so they shoudln't worry if it's getting longer than they thought. Mine started at 8 am, and I think by 11 or 11:30 I was awake (if I remember right - I'll confirm with those who were in the room when I woke up). Of course, your mileage may vary. I've always woken up quickly from anesthesia. I was only awake briefly, long enough to realize, yay, I made it, and to have them tell me it all went fine - just as expected. Which gave me enough peace of mind that I think I went back to sleep for a while (will have to ask others how long - but seems like maybe another hr or two?). When I woke up that second time, I was very much aware of the breathing tube and they could tell I didn't like it, so they took it out (again, I'll confirm with others to make sure it wasn't 6 hrs later and I thought it was an hr later, lol). I was pleasantly surprised that it didn't hurt when they took the tube out, and felt much, much better (in my case) once it was out. But as many have reported, most people don't even remember the tube being taken out. After the breathing tube is out, you still have the chest tubes, the bladder catheter and 2 or 3 IVs in (one of which was in my neck - I think for the heart/lung machine?). And an oxegen tube loosely fitted in your nostrils. Most of those things stay in until you're out of ICU (which in my case was about 20 hrs after surgery, but can be longer than that for others I think) and some of them may stay in a little longer yet (I don't remember exactly when they took out the bladder cath - think it might have been a day or two after surgery). But by about day 2 or 3, you're likely down to just one IV and that's it.

 

[RunMartin]

My surgery lasted about 7 hours. When I woke up the tubes were already out and they seemed to keep me sedated as I remember only little bits of the next 24 hours. The removal of the drainage tube was not that bad either.

 

[nngbwh]

Surgery for me started @ 1:00pm and last @ 9:30pm. Woke up the next morning with the ventilator tube off.

Still have the chest tubes, the bladder catheter and 1 IV stuck on my body.

 

[Jkm7]

My mitral valve surgery was almost 8 hours as my surgeon made several attempts at repair before he proceeded to replace.
I recall waking with the tube in place but my foggy memory makes me think I was only awake a few minutes. Saw my husband and then went right back to sleep. Next time I woke the breathing tube had been removed and I felt remarkably well.

 

[AgilityDog]

I'm told my AVR will take 3-4 hours. My MVR and maze took much longer than originally planned. If we have to do a repair on my tricuspid I'm sure my AVR will take longer than 3-4 hours, too.

 

[mainframe]

My surgery took 11 hours. My breathing tube was in place 11 days. I don't remember having it removed.

 

[ottagal]

For my AVR, I was rolled into the OR around 7:30 am and the surgeon was out to see my family around 12:10 pm. I was moved into ICU around 1 pm and stayed there for 2 days.
I was intubated until 10:30 pm that night. I recall waking up a few times, saw my sister who said 'do your yoga breathing' and then went back to sleep. I was sedated the whole time. I barely remember being extubated and I was very worried about that prior to my surgery (which ended up being a non-issue).

 

[Freddie]

My MVreplacement lasted 4 hours. Was in ICU for about 10 hours. During that 10 hours, I kinda woke up with the tube still in place. The next go around of waking up it was gone.

Personally IMHO, I think it's a minor detail to worry about.

 

[Mentu]

Penny, the big factor with how long surgery lasts is what needs to be done. My AVR lasted 2 hours 45 minutes during which Dr Spann only replaced the aortic valve. Surgery began Tuesday morning at 09:00 AM and every 45-60 minutes the PA called to provide a progress report. They finished closing at 11:45 AM and moved me to the ICU. I remember seeing my friend, Dan, in the ICU while the vent was still in place; the vent was removed around 04:00 PM. I remained in the ICU until 11:00 PM Wednesday evening and woke up in my room on Thursday morning. I, too, have only scattered memories before Thursday. On Thursday, the port in my carotid was removed along with the IV in the right arm and the small drain tube. On Friday, the Foley Cath was removed and I took a shower which felt wonderful then I changed into my own clothes. As well the larger drain tube was disconnected, coiled up and taped to my chest opposite the pacing wires. Saturday, the remaining drain tube and the pacing wires were removed and the IV in the left hand was disconnected. On Sunday morning, as soon as the Surgeon said I could leave a nurse came in and removed the left hand IV and the monitor pads. I think that accounts for all of the gear.

Larry

 

[olefin]

Best I remember my AVR was just under 3 hours. When awaken I was off the ventilator. On day two I went back for 2 more hours surgery due to internal bleeding. Was off ventilator when awaken. But a few days later went back to ICU in an emergency, put on the ventilator while fully conscience. (assure you, that is no fun!)
Taken off the ventilator 5 days later. It was a long 21 days but others have had it much worse.

 

[Luckyguy17]

wow, some folds have had it rough, every case is different

was wheeled to surgical floor at 7:00AM, out cold about 10 minutes later and woke up (sort of conscious, in and out) at about 7:00PM for about an hour to give hand signals to my wife.

wife was told that I was out of surgery about 2:00PM, but they had a problem with fever and BP and recommended that they would take a few hours to stabilize and that I i could only be seen after 6:00PM

Pretty much out from 8;00 to till about midnight, then believe I counted every second of almost every minute of every hour, with some moments of panic till about 6:00AM in ICU and pretty uncomfortable, at which time must have been put out again to remove breathing tube and was moved conscious to step down about 9:00AM that morning...quality of life got way better, way faster from then on

In recovery room a few days later, fellow in bed next to me who was in ICU with me on 1st night and also indicated that he had a sleepless night in ICU and that we may have been left somewhat unattended for quite some time...go figure, whereas in step down, nurse was very attentive...but by then Breathing tube was out so i could talk and communicate needs

so although procedure(s) are done frequently, from notes above, for similar procedures, there is quite some variance in time and complications...this is likely where the medical staff gets some fun, from complications that make the routine, less of a routine (smile)

 

[Penny]

I have been told I am to arrive at 5:30 am to the hospital and then it begins... they say 4-5hrs in surgery... so I shall report back when I am back home.
ottawagal... you mention your sister told you to do your yoga breathing.. what is that? I haven't done any yoga...

 

[Angel]

Hey Penny, (my OHS buddy) you and I have the exact same arrival times! 5:30am!! My surgery is scheduled for 7:30am though. It would really be weird if our surgeries were on the same dates! lol.

 

[pikacat]

my mitral valve/aortic valve repair was a little over 9 hours. i was awake for a lot of the respirator action and remember not only the removal, but the respirator itself and what was going on vividly. it seemed like i was awake for a very long time before they took it out, to the point that this time around, i specifically asked why i had to be awake for this and whether i could be sedated. it seems that it was an atypical experience, and the surgeon told me they'd try and keep me sedated for most of it this time. it's actually what i enjoyed the least of OHS. while my surgeon said that while people who are awake while on the respirator tend to have protracted memories of it due to their distress, i'm still convinced i was awake for quite a long time while on it. it does seem though that my experience is not normal, and i really won't get into it. i didn't even realize until i asked the surgeon just this summer that this was atypical and most people are asleep through their ventilator experience.

 

[ARGreenMN]

Penny & Angel, make sure to post your dates when you know them (maybe you already did and I missed it). It would be pretty cool if you're on the same day I think 5:30 am is kind of the standard time tho - that's when I had to be there too for the prep (for a 7:30 surgery).

 

[a4wanman]

Had to check-in at 5:30 AM. Was told surgery started at 10:10 AM and finished at 5:20 PM. I had AVR, aorta replaced (including part of the arch), and an "internal" by-pass. One of the coronary arteries was rerouted.

 

[Luana]

I still haven't gotten my medical records, so don't know exactly how long surgery was, but it's several hours usually. When they take you into the operating room, is not when your surgery will start. There's so much to do on you (and you won't be aware of anything since you're knocked out) that it's at least an hour, sometimes more, before anything is cut. I think surgery was scheduled for 7:30 or 8, but didn't start until around 9, and I was taken into the operating room around 7.

The breathing tube came out for me at 6pm. I'm not sure when I got to ICU; I'd guess sometime early to mid-afternoon. My cardiologist dropped in to say hi and he told me what time it was (3:30) and though I could hear and understand him just fine, I could not even open an eyelid, move my hand, a finger, nothing. All I can say is the anesthesia used in heart surgery is a heck of a lot more potent than when I had back surgery. With heart surgery, they put your butt waaaaaaayy out there. I was pretty much awake and alert around 5 and the tube was out at 6. Don't worry about the breathing tube. It really is no big deal.

 

[prdraper1]

My AVR surgery took five and a half hours, I was in intensive care for 5 nights and went home on the seventh day. My wife and son saw me as I came out of the operating theatre and were really upset at my condition. They were told that this was normal but it is worth knowing beforehand what they should expect.