In a message dated 98-03-05 15:57:53 EST, you write:

<< Subject: mom needs open heart surgery >>

My Dad had 4 open heart surgeries, 4 mitral valves and 2 aortic valves, over a
14 year period. The valves last about 8 to 10 years. The pigs valves (1&2)
tore eventually and the mechanical valves (3&4) malfunctioned. The last one he
never really recovered from and spent the last 10 months of his life in the
hospital ICU. He was on a ventilator afterwards for a few days with the first,
and for several months the final time. He had chest tubes, central line, IV,
catheter. My Dad always complained afterwards of back pain, as they pull back
the ribs to get to the heart. They certainly do try to wean patients off the
ventilators within 24 to 48 hours, get the patients out of bed, and walking as
soon as possible.  This patient will be on coumadin, and probably a diuretic,
digoxin possibly. The recovery for this woman will most likely go well. With
the incision going from her neck to her umbilicus, I can't imagine her nursing
for,at best, several weeks. Just the thought of a 10 month old near her
incision, causes me to wince a bit.
Would love to hear if anyone actually did nurse following open heart surgery.
Roni Chastain