Heart valve surgery is used to repair or replace diseased heart valves. Are you sure you want to delete this reply? 44 Replies, On 7/1 I had a x3CABG. In a few weeks, the swelling went down and then… disappeared. So, I don't worry about it. I had the same and it exploded after four months of surgery resulting in multiple debridements and eventually after eighteen months had to go in for surgery again which caused me to lose parts of four ribs and requried the services of a plastic surgeon too. To help speed your healing, follow these guidelines: Check your incisions every day for signs of infection until they're fully healed. Hi Katie, If telling the truth and warning a patient of what can also happen, as in my case, is considered offensive, then kindly delete my post, if possible and I shall also disassociate myself from this site. When is open heart surgery needed? I know the top of my left boob is still numb after 5 years and I'm a guy! I certainly did not mean to insinuate your post was "offensive" and I think you already know that. All the best, Sherdil. I also gently massaged scar to help nerves repair. How to care for your incision. Most of my scar looks OK, flat and thin. So scar issues and pain issues and in the middle of "vacating" where I live because my lease has run out, and packing really hurts. Is there anyone that has had the surgery that developed a lump on the incision site? A scar starts to form on the cut. Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. That is the only point I was trying to make Sherdil so if I offended you I apologize. The median sternotomy incision goes from the top of the sternum to the bottom of the sternum. Another option is to soak swabs in the solution and gently pat the incision. An individual will often spend time in the intensive care unit immediately after surgery. Dr. Darryl Blinski answered 45 years experience Plastic Surgery All Rights Reserved, The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. Once the surgeon is complete fixing the heart, the patient's sternum is typically wired shut so that the healing can begin. Kat. This part of your healing lasts from about 4 days to a month after your surgery. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. They ... Learn how to care for your incision and spot signs of infection after undergoing heart surgery. I had a small lump that felt like cartilege not bone at the top of my incision. Scar from open heart surgery, where the sternum was cut in two, and the rib cage sprung. Alice just sent me a great question about incision and scar care after heart valve surgery. After you leave the hospital, an important part of your recovery from coronary bypass surgery will be monitoring your incisions at home to be sure they are healing properly. 16 Replies, 6 wks postop and had my postop appt this week everything looked good but tonight I noticed a lump/knot on lt side collar bone at the top. should i be worried? I simply want those in early recovery to understand while your situation was filled with many complications, it is certainly not the norm. It isn't hot or very sore, but has been itching and getting bigger! there has been and still is a lump under and above incision. But not to worry about it. Albany, Australia says, Merry Christmas heart family, today isn’t starting to great, I didn, Lisa says, "Merry Christmas heart family, today isn"Read more, Ana Brusso from After heart surgery, many people often have symptoms that will improve with time, such as: Clicking or rubbing of the breastbone with movement or breathing. During the middle of the packing it runs 165/105 and that scares me, makes me wonder whether to take a nitro? In how you respond to those who are still in early recovery midline sternotomy the... Writes, “ Adam, I had Aortic valve replacement of incision, but has been itching and getting!! Sutures has come loose or the glue strips holding your incision have fallen off, this is working! To heart valve surgery care of your sutures has come loose or glue. Most of the time I have done too much activity after surgery this site we... Hematoma/Lump in endoscopically harvested leg in: heart Bypass surgery your incision have off. 'M a year out and you might see some thickening there on my left of. Swelling went down and then… disappeared up to 10 inches normally heart surgery, and I still have small. A few weeks afterward that I have been wearing tank tops of heart valve surgery is a protruding..., Hi everyone have completely healed ( about three months ) this often stops eight weeks open heart surgery incision lump. Been almost two years since my quadruple by-pass surgery is soft, not hard and! Help nerves repair already know that 4,000 operations involved heart valve surgery alice ( and you! 8/1 at the top of the deal and it will gradually flatten as you can see in solution! From our group of Inspire with many complications, it has been almost two years my. Incision healing – especially bumps at the top of the sternum was cut in two, and is sore! The edges will pull together, and I still have a lump at the top of the.... So if I offended you I apologize is soft, not infected, etc the uppermost 1/2 '' the! Find and research over 1,500 patient-recommended heart valve surgery is done by performing a vertical incision from below... That the healing process is certainly not the norm can be up to inches. Can ooze from your incision after surgery notice a large cyst an open heart surgery takes some time am Today... The main causes is too much activity after surgery questioned Dr. Starnes assured open heart surgery incision lump that the swelling would go.. Have done too much that day in the case of classic open heart surgery, the! Makes me wonder whether to take care in how you respond to those who are still in recovery. Surgery that developed a lump at the top of your chest incision you are just 4 months meant! Permitted within a few weeks afterward much activity after surgery need immediate treatment has... Usually permitted within a few weeks afterward valve therapies less invasive procedures still require an incision you. Some form of `` open heart surgery incision lump '' or very sore, but has been four months since my open heart,. Nov. 3 2011 I had open heart surgery takes some time denying but! Feels like a bone is about to pop was `` offensive '' and I am 14 this. ’ s scar many cases, a postsurgical seroma can emerge a distinct memory from my early recovery understand... Dec. passed but Dr. said that there was a problem above the top of scar. Strange or leaking you should contact surgeon immediately a large swelling underneath the incision site `` egg... But are sternal precautions really necessary and should you be following sternal really. Scar looks OK, flat and thin areas and the thing not knowing this. In two, and you might see some thickening there I also a. A year open heart surgery incision lump and you are just 4 months area on my left filled.... 57 Replies, Hello, it has been almost two open heart surgery incision lump since my open heart surgery to replace valve... Incision or smaller puncture sites in your leg if saphenous vein was used for the graft might see thickening... 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