“After a heart surgery, when can my son start playing again?”
My son went into cardiac surgery because he had a hole in his heart. But now he has been in recovery for at least a month. When is it okay for him to go back to his normal routine? We've been pretty careful with keeping him safe while recovering from the surgery.
5 Answers
Cardiologist(Pediatric)CardiacSurgery
In general kids are cleared to play sports 3 months after open surgery. Assuming surgery was successful and uncomplicated.
It typically takes 2-3 months for the sternum to fully heal. Most patients can begin less strenuous activities around 6 weeks out and gradually resume all activities by 3 months after surgery.
The typical period of limited activity following a sternotomy (incision in the center of the chest) is 6-8 weeks. After that, the bone has usually healed sufficiently to safely resume normal daily activities, including play.
More specific recommendations about rigorous activity and competitive sports depend on a few factors, such as your son’s age, the type of heart condition he has, and the outcome of the surgery (Is the electrical system and squeeze of the heart normal? Are there any significant blockages or leaks in the heart? Is there excess fluid around the heart? Are there concerns that the incision hasn’t healed well or could be infected? Are there concerns about enlarged blood vessels or coronary artery narrowing? Are pressures in the heart and lung blood vessels normal?) These are best addressed by his cardiologist, but if it was repair of a single hole in his heart, chances are good that he’ll be OK for unrestricted activity after the 8 week point.
Finally, many children get lots of extra energy after holes in their hearts are fixed. Still, after recouparating from a major surgery and hospital stay, it may take some time for his endurance to return. Be sure to let his cardiologist know if he seems to be in pain, seems lethargic, has other symptoms he tells you about or you can see, or is just not acting himself.
Here’s to a speedy and complete recovery for him!
More specific recommendations about rigorous activity and competitive sports depend on a few factors, such as your son’s age, the type of heart condition he has, and the outcome of the surgery (Is the electrical system and squeeze of the heart normal? Are there any significant blockages or leaks in the heart? Is there excess fluid around the heart? Are there concerns that the incision hasn’t healed well or could be infected? Are there concerns about enlarged blood vessels or coronary artery narrowing? Are pressures in the heart and lung blood vessels normal?) These are best addressed by his cardiologist, but if it was repair of a single hole in his heart, chances are good that he’ll be OK for unrestricted activity after the 8 week point.
Finally, many children get lots of extra energy after holes in their hearts are fixed. Still, after recouparating from a major surgery and hospital stay, it may take some time for his endurance to return. Be sure to let his cardiologist know if he seems to be in pain, seems lethargic, has other symptoms he tells you about or you can see, or is just not acting himself.
Here’s to a speedy and complete recovery for him!
As a general rule, return to normal activities can occur 6-8 weeks following open heart surgery, including those done to repair an atrial or ventricular septal defect ("hole in the heart"). As surgical approaches and underlying heart conditions vary, for an individual patient their cardiologist or cardiac surgeon is best asked this question.