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Cardiac surgery

Discharge from the hospital after your heart surgery

Before you can leave the hospital, you must achieve the set medical goals, ensure all your questions have been answered, and that the necessary arrangements have been made. The checklist below can be a helpful tool in this regard. It includes questions you can ask yourself before being discharged. If anything is unclear, do not hesitate to speak to a healthcare provider about it.

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Discharge checklist

  • Are you mobile and self-sufficient enough to resume your daily activities at home?
  • Do you know what you are allowed to do yourself and what is currently discouraged? Think of household tasks, physiotherapy, diet, driving (driving ban), returning to work, hobbies, travelling, etc.
  • Is it clear which medication you need to take and when?
  • Do you need additional prescriptions?
  • Do you know which questions you can ask your GP or cardiologist?
  • What warning symptoms should prompt you to go to the emergency department?
  • Do you have the necessary contact details?
  • Do you know how to care for your wounds? Consider showering, bathing, sun protection, and dressing materials.
  • Do you know what complaints and discomforts you might experience?
  • Is it clear how to promote your recovery and fitness?

Are aids and/or adjustments to your home needed after the surgery? Do you know where to go for these?

  • Who can pick you up from the hospital?
  • Who can help you at home?
  • Can you rely on family, friends, or neighbours?
  • Do you need additional help from healthcare staff at home?
  • Would you prefer to recover somewhere other than at home after your hospital stay?
  • Are you aware of your follow-up appointment with your cardiologist?
  • Have you contacted a physiotherapist near you?
  • Has your GP been informed of your hospital stay?
  • Do you have insurance documents that need to be completed?
  • Do you need a certificate (e.g. incapacity for work, travel cancellation)?

When can you go home?

The average hospital stay is 5 to 7 days. This can, of course, vary depending on the type of surgery, your medical condition, and whether you can go home directly.

During your stay, the ward doctor will decide with you (and your family) when your discharge will be planned. A provisional discharge date is always set as soon as you return to the ward. The ward doctor will evaluate your discharge plan during a daily visit to your room. They know your medical condition best and will only let you go home if it is deemed safe.

On the day of your discharge, you can leave the ward from 14:00. If this is not possible, arrange a feasible time with the responsible ward doctor and nurse in good time.

Before you leave the ward, a discharge interview will take place with a nurse. They will provide you with all the discharge documents and discuss the most important points with you.

  • Medical discharge letter: give this letter to your GP so they are informed about your recent surgery and current health status. Your referring cardiologist will receive a digital copy of this letter.
  • Nursing note with some guidelines for the first few weeks after the surgery
  • Medication prescriptions with instructions for dosage and timing
  • Prescription for physiotherapy and a physiotherapist's report on your current condition with advice for further rehabilitation at home
  • Follow-up appointment with your cardiologist and/or other specialists
  • Procedure certificate
  • Additional certificates, insurance documents, etc.

If you cannot go home

Sometimes, discharge to your home is not possible, for example, if you live alone, lack sufficient support, are a caregiver for your partner, or are not self-sufficient enough.

Report this in good time so that we can work with the social work department to find an appropriate intermediate solution for you. This could include a transfer to another hospital, a convalescent home, a short stay, or a rehabilitation stay.

Last edit: 21 february 2025