Free Printable Heart Surgery Checklists
Three one-page checklists to print, fill in, and bring along. Use them before surgery and share them with the family members who will help you.
Hospital Packing List for Heart Surgery
Pack light. The hospital supplies gowns, socks, and most basics. These are the things patients most often wish they had brought.
Clothes and comfort
- Two or three loose tops that button or zip in front
- Loose pants or shorts with an elastic waist
- Non-slip slippers or shoes you can slip on (feet often swell)
- A light robe or sweater
- A small pillow to hug against your chest when you cough (ask whether the hospital gives you one)
Everyday aids
- Glasses and case
- Hearing aids and spare batteries or charger
- Dentures and case
- CPAP machine and mask, if you use one
- Walker or cane, if you use one
Papers
- Photo ID and insurance card
- A current list of all medicines and doses, including vitamins and supplements
- A list of allergies
- Copies of your health care proxy and living will
- Names and phone numbers of your doctors and two emergency contacts
Small things that help
- Phone and a long charging cord
- Toothbrush, lip balm, and other toiletries you like
- Notebook and pen for questions and instructions
- Earbuds, a book, or a tablet
- Eye mask and earplugs for sleep
Leave at home
- Rings and other jewelry (fingers can swell)
- Cash, credit cards, and valuables
- Your own medicine bottles, unless your team asks you to bring them
Questions to Ask Your Surgeon
Write down your questions before the visit. Put the most important ones first. Bring a family member or friend to take notes.
The operation
- What exactly will you do, and what problem will it fix?
- What are my other choices, including no surgery?
- Why is this approach best for me?
My risk
- What are the main risks for me, given my health?
- What is my estimated risk, and what is it based on?
- What is the risk if I do not have surgery?
Experience and results
- How many of these operations do you do each year?
- How do your results compare with the national benchmark?
- Does this hospital follow an ERAS® enhanced recovery pathway?
Before surgery
- Which medicines do I stop, and exactly when?
- What can I eat and drink, and until what time?
- What can I do now to get stronger?
Recovery and follow-up
- How long will I be in the hospital and in intensive care?
- When can I drive, work, lift, and resume intimacy?
- When does cardiac rehab start, and how do I join?
- Whom do I call with problems, and when is my first follow-up visit?
Home Preparation Checklist
Most people go home about four to seven days after heart surgery. Set up your home before the operation so the first weeks are easier and safer.
Your resting space
- Set up a resting spot, ideally on the main floor
- Keep phone, water, glasses, and medicines within easy reach
- Have a firm chair with arms, or a recliner, that is easy to get out of
- Move everyday items to between waist and shoulder height, so you do not reach high or bend low
Safety
- Clear loose rugs, cords, and clutter from walkways
- Add night lights between the bedroom and the bathroom
- Put a shower chair and a non-slip mat in the shower
- Consider a handheld shower head
Supplies
- Cook and freeze several simple meals with protein
- A thermometer and a bathroom scale for daily checks
- A weekly pill box
- Your care team's phone numbers posted by the phone
Help from others
- A ride home from the hospital
- Someone with you around the clock for about the first week
- Help with groceries, laundry, pets, trash, and rides for several weeks
- Transportation to follow-up visits and cardiac rehab
- Time off arranged with your employer
You will usually not drive for about four to six weeks or lift more than a few pounds for six to eight weeks after surgery through the breastbone. Minimally invasive operations can shorten some of these times, and some programs now allow fewer sternal precautions and earlier driving. Check with your own care team. Let pain be your guide: if an activity hurts, stop and let the bone heal.
These checklists are general education, not medical advice. Your own surgeon and care team know your situation best. If you think you are having a medical emergency, call 911.