Michelle D
Well-known member
Hi everyone. I'm wonder what tubes I'll have in me when I wake up.
So what are all the tubes I'll wake up with mitral valve surgery
- Thread starter Michelle D
- Start date
Help Support Valve Replacement Forums:
Ross
Well-known member
Drain tubes (2 or 3) unless you have a lung collapse, then perhaps a chest tube. You may possibly still be intubated also.
recent for me, so to clarify
Drain tubes 1-3 or 4 as was my case as well a few others, for which we still do not understand why there is variance in OHS yet..
and you will also likely have some wires (small) that are connected somewhere internal for restart and in case of additional stabilization
also a catheter in neck and you may also be aware of breathing tube (maybe) on 1st wake up
Good news is most of the connections are temporary and will be removed in 1st few days, so temporary inconvenience
It depends on your needs, MIchelle. The surgery team is primarily concerned with your safety. I have heard of patients with 3 drainage tubes (I had one), a urinary catheter, pacemaker wires, and, oh yes, the breathing tube. I woke up in ICU and couldn't move my tongue, so I chose to go back to sleep The second time, same. The third time the breathing tube was gone and I got to suck a sponge of water. That was heaven. When I got out of ICU, the drainage tube was out and all I had left was a suture. The urinary cathedral is convenient but you feel you have to pee all the time. As a 63 old male it was good not to have to get out of bed to several times a night. It was both a nuisance and a blessing when they took it out. It was nice not to have to go to the toilet but it was good not to feel that you have to pee all the time. Some have had two pacemaker wires; I had 6.
I had a sore throat while on the ward and sipping water seemed to make it better. I found out that during surgery I had a ultra sound tube in my esophagus so the surgeon could see what was happening in my heart. Not to worry, all the tubes help, and they will all come out in the end.
Most llikey the vent. Then you will have anywhere from 1-4 chest tubes (that drain the fluid from your chest)
You will most likely have tempory pacer wires, that some people have coming out of their sternal incision and other have seperate holes for. There will be a few IVs and Many (but not ALL) have a line coming out of there neck (usually a Swan line that measures the pressures in your heart)
You also will have a bladder catheter.
Also some people have a NG tube, that goes to the stomach (usually down your nose)
Since every hospital does things slightly different, you could check the hospitals, webs site, many of them have info on what you will have when you wake up after OHS
Last edited:
Michelle D
Well-known member
So the drainage tubes drain what? Does it feel weird when they take them out? I've had a urinary catheder before for a small surgery in the past so km not too worried about that (it was a female issue and I wasn't cut open or anything, pretty minor compared to heart surgery). I hate IVs so I can't imagine the anxiety I'll have with tubes hanging out of me. I guess it's just the idea of it. I've always felt like my skin has a purpose and sticking things through it or in it is just wrong. I'm sure after this surgery though needles and the like will be no big deal to me. I also feel like my lungs shouldn't have tubes in them, my throat shouldn't have a camera in it. Etc. My TEEs was no fun and I'm glad that will be done while I'm already out next time. So I really need to get over my animal instincts that tell me these things before surgery. I am greatful though that I can have surgery, I just think if this was 1910 instead of 2010, I wouldn't make it to my 30th birthday. So thank goodness for modern cardiology and their damn tubes.
When they are operating fluid and blood and air gets in your chest cavity that has to drain out. Also excess pericaridal fluid and/or plueral fluid (if they go in your plueral sac (around lungs) that your body build because of the trauma/irritation surgery causes.
Michelle, your last line says it all, you go with the flow and the pros know what they need to do and there are slight diferences from hospital to hospital as someone stated.
drain tubes to my knowledge, drain fluids blood from chest cavity, to prevent internal infection...step down ICU nurse knows, when removal is right for you
Good news is you are fast asleep on all the inserts and further good news is when the tubes come out, you will be moved shortly after to a regular ward and will have mobility and a physio and nurse encouraging you to get out of bed....about 36-48 hours post op ....life gets so much better after that as pain meds are reduced and you become conscious once again
Positive forward thiniking can do wonders in 1st few days, in those brief moments of awakedness
drain tubes to my knowledge, drain fluids blood from chest cavity, to prevent internal infection...step down ICU nurse knows, when removal is right for you
Good news is you are fast asleep on all the inserts and further good news is when the tubes come out, you will be moved shortly after to a regular ward and will have mobility and a physio and nurse encouraging you to get out of bed....about 36-48 hours post op ....life gets so much better after that as pain meds are reduced and you become conscious once again
Positive forward thiniking can do wonders in 1st few days, in those brief moments of awakedness
Michelle, the drainage tubes may be left in place for a day or two after they are no longer needed as was the case after my AVR. They were just coiled up and taped to my abdomen along with the pacer wires so I could walk unencumbered by them. It felt very odd when the tubes were removed but for me it was not at all painful but it was an unusual sensation. At the end of surgery, the pacer wires are sewn into the surface of the heart to provide a direct path for stimulating the heart if there are problems with heart beat. They too feel a little odd as they slip out but it only takes a moment and they, too, were not painful. Perhaps, because I am a male, the removal of the Foley catheter drew my interest far more than the drain tube and pacing wires. I would have to say that it was my least favorite experience after surgery.
Jkm7
Well-known member
My four chest tubes were in place when I left CICU for step down unit (around 18 or fewer hours) after mitral valve surgery.
I walked the first day post op with all those tubes in place. My nurse set the drain collection containers on the seat of a wheel chair and had me hold the handles of the chair to walk a fair distance. Everyone is different but they took two of the drain tubes out day two post op, one was removed day three in the morning and the fourth one fell out on its own when I was in the restroom. I was dumbstruck staring at it laying on the floor. They sent me immediately for another chest x-ray and relief all was well and it did not need to be reinserted probably because I did so much walking. There is no doubt in my mind, the more we move around and walk, the easier/fater our recovery for most people. If you can't, you can't. If you CAN walk, do so. The rewards are great.
Bladder cath was removed day one post op.
I had two IV's initially and one was removed day two post op. One wrist IV remains until the minute they discharge you. They keep a line in place, just in case.
I had a heavy line in my neck that came out day two post op and the temporary pacer wires were removed day three.
I walked the first day post op with all those tubes in place. My nurse set the drain collection containers on the seat of a wheel chair and had me hold the handles of the chair to walk a fair distance. Everyone is different but they took two of the drain tubes out day two post op, one was removed day three in the morning and the fourth one fell out on its own when I was in the restroom. I was dumbstruck staring at it laying on the floor. They sent me immediately for another chest x-ray and relief all was well and it did not need to be reinserted probably because I did so much walking. There is no doubt in my mind, the more we move around and walk, the easier/fater our recovery for most people. If you can't, you can't. If you CAN walk, do so. The rewards are great.
Bladder cath was removed day one post op.
I had two IV's initially and one was removed day two post op. One wrist IV remains until the minute they discharge you. They keep a line in place, just in case.
I had a heavy line in my neck that came out day two post op and the temporary pacer wires were removed day three.
Michelle,
The chest tube(s) will be removed before you leave ICU and that may also be when the Foley is removed, too. By the time you leave ICU, you'll probably only have the one IV left, though you'll still have electrodes to connect you to a heart monitor. Karl has some pictures on his Member Page of himself after surgery to give you an idea of how much stuff will be on and in you. Other than the IV started in your arm, everything else will be done once you're taken into surgery and knocked out.
http://www.valvereplacement.org/forums/album.php?albumid=160
I found it all to be a lot less scary by seeing what it's like afterwards. Also, when you do your pre-op stuff, that's a good time for questions like this.
Wishing you all the best!
The chest tube(s) will be removed before you leave ICU and that may also be when the Foley is removed, too. By the time you leave ICU, you'll probably only have the one IV left, though you'll still have electrodes to connect you to a heart monitor. Karl has some pictures on his Member Page of himself after surgery to give you an idea of how much stuff will be on and in you. Other than the IV started in your arm, everything else will be done once you're taken into surgery and knocked out.
http://www.valvereplacement.org/forums/album.php?albumid=160
I found it all to be a lot less scary by seeing what it's like afterwards. Also, when you do your pre-op stuff, that's a good time for questions like this.
Wishing you all the best!
Justin had his chest tubes when he was on the regular floor out of CICU, I'm pretty sure for all his surgeries i Know for the past couple the chest tube (tubes) were still in. He did have the foley out in ICU tho
Marcia58
Well-known member
I had a mini-thor mitral repair. The wires and tubes I remember are - 2 chest drainage tubes on the right side back about where my bra band covers, 2 heart pacing wires, a Swan catheter in my neck (carotid?), an IV, a urinary catheter, an NG (stomach) tube--I think, and the vent tube. I remember the vent being ttaken out. They told me to cough and they pulled it out when I did. It didn't hurt--just felt kinda weird. The pacer wires felt kind of like having stitches removed. The ones I was really glad to be rid of were the chest tubes. By the end of my stay, I felt pretty good, except it felt like they were poking me inside. It felt strange when the PA pulled them out. They were ridged, so I felt that. Plus, I'd swear the each had about 2-3 feet coiled inside me, and I'm sure I felt them uncoiling as the were removed. Weird, but wonderful! I didn't have anything hurt as it came out.
Here's a picture of me, a couple hours post-op
Six weeks later, I carried my 2yo granddaughter on my shoulders for half a mile! Was it worth it? You betcha!
Marcia58
Well-known member
Here's me a week later!
I wanted to put the pix side by side, but it only allows one per post!
I wanted to put the pix side by side, but it only allows one per post!
Michelle,
I don't think any tubes are actually in your lungs. The breathing tube is in the trachea which allows the ventilator to breathe for both lungs. The chest tubes are inserted between the ribs, but don't go into the lungs. If I'm wrong, someone can correct me, but that's how I understand it.
I don't think any tubes are actually in your lungs. The breathing tube is in the trachea which allows the ventilator to breathe for both lungs. The chest tubes are inserted between the ribs, but don't go into the lungs. If I'm wrong, someone can correct me, but that's how I understand it.
Jkm7
Well-known member
The longer the patient is in CICU, the more likely the drain tubes will be removed before moving to step down unit.
If one leaves CICU very quickly, it is more likely chest tubes will still be in place.
Each patient is an individual case and we all experience this surgery and recovery differently.
kfay
Well-known member
The first part of this isn't necessarily true. I kept my chest tubes for an extended amount of time because I was producing a lot of fluid inside my chest that needed to be drained. I think the last one was pulled on day 7 with the other two having been pulled the day before. My pacer wires came out on day 5 or so. I opted to keep my foley in until they pulled that last chest tube...too cumbersome trying to carry all those boxes to the bathroom.
They are going to keep you full of drugs and probably have more to offer (no one told me until I was having trouble sleeping on day 5 that I could have ativan any time I wanted it) so anxiety over your IV lines and stuff will probably be non-existent. The worst part for me was when I was lying in pre-op, waiting for them to take me back. Even though they gave me a pill to "help me relax", I didn't feel it at all. Thankfully, as soon as they rolled me into the OR, they put me out.
cp172
Well-known member
The drugs are great. They will keep you happy and painfree. Everyone has a different experience and so will you. It is great to wake up and know that you climbed over the mountain and a lot of how you recover is up to you.
