EXPERT
Dr. John M. Clark, M.D.
Cardiologist (Pediatric)
Dr. John Clark is a pediatric cardiologist practicing in Akron, OH. Dr. Clark specializes in caring for fetuses, infants, children and adolescents with cardiovascular or cardiac abnormalities. Practiced in both inpatient and outpatient settings, the scope of conditions cared for by pediatric cardiologists is large and includes congenital heart defects, heart muscle disorders, rhythm disturbances and hypertension.
46 years
Experience
Dr. John M. Clark, M.D.
- Akron, OH
- Oh State Univ Coll of Med, Columbus Oh
- Accepting new patients
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How long will it take my daughter to recover from open heart surgery?
There is not a straight answer to that. With any heart surgery, there are goals that need accomplished for recovery to proceed. In order of timing, they are:
Get through the READ MORE
There is not a straight answer to that. With any heart surgery, there are goals that need accomplished for recovery to proceed. In order of timing, they are:
Get through the surgery.
Get off the ventillator.
Get off IV medications that are needed to support the heart.
Get chest tubes and lines out.
Get off oxygen.
Get out of bed and move.
Eat and drink.
Go home.
The type of surgery, the health of the heart, and other complicating factors all contribute to how long recovery will take. That being said, children may be in the hospital for a couple days to a couple of months. Uncomplicated surgery in a healthy 8 year old would typically lead to hospital discharge in 2 days. The most complicated heart surgeries in that age would be expected to have a hospital stay of 1-2 weeks, but easily much longer. On average, most 8 year olds undergoing heart surgery can expect to be home in about 3 days. They are usually off pain medications at around one week. And usually by two weeks they are feeling close to back to normal. Children tend to bounce back much more quickly than adults.
Get through the surgery.
Get off the ventillator.
Get off IV medications that are needed to support the heart.
Get chest tubes and lines out.
Get off oxygen.
Get out of bed and move.
Eat and drink.
Go home.
The type of surgery, the health of the heart, and other complicating factors all contribute to how long recovery will take. That being said, children may be in the hospital for a couple days to a couple of months. Uncomplicated surgery in a healthy 8 year old would typically lead to hospital discharge in 2 days. The most complicated heart surgeries in that age would be expected to have a hospital stay of 1-2 weeks, but easily much longer. On average, most 8 year olds undergoing heart surgery can expect to be home in about 3 days. They are usually off pain medications at around one week. And usually by two weeks they are feeling close to back to normal. Children tend to bounce back much more quickly than adults.
Is ECG safe for children?
An EKG is completely safe for children. The only risk is that the test is interpreted by someone not experienced in reading EKGs in children. As long as it is being interpreted READ MORE
An EKG is completely safe for children. The only risk is that the test is interpreted by someone not experienced in reading EKGs in children. As long as it is being interpreted by an expert in pediatric EKGs, then the test carries no risk.
