Wound Care

• Once the wound has healed and the stitches have been taken out, remove the dressing and the patient can take a shower, but keep the wound dry.
• If you want the wound to be smooth and look nice, apply Steri-Strip adhesive tape after each shower for half a year. If you are allergic to the tape, you must stop using it when your skin is red or blistered. The tape left on your skin can be gently wiped off with baby oil.
• Pay attention for any redness, cracks, discharge at a wound. If you have any of these symptoms, please see a doctor.
• Prevent children from falling or having direct impact of external force on their front chest; do not let them lie on their stomach when sleeping nor lift heavy objects (it will take 2 months for the sternum to fully heal).

Diet

• Eat a balanced diet. At the initial stage, it is better to be light and not too salty.
• Eat several small meals a day at the early stage after operation, with portion sizes increasing depending on a child's appetite and digestion.
• If on diuretics and digitalis and other drugs, they should eat more potassium-rich food, such as orange juice, bananas, guavas, papayas, and tomatoes.
• Encourage children to eat with people and increase their appetite.
• Food content can be changed, such as dumplings, noodles, steamed eggs, etc., to promote appetite.
• Prevent constipation, eat more fruits and vegetables, exercise properly.

Attention to Drug Use

• Digoxin syrup: Pay attention to whether they have loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, blurred vision, slow heart beat, decreased pulse, arrhythmia, etc.
• Diuretic: Pay attention to the amount of urination and any edema in children. When their urine quantity is excessive, eat more foods rich in potassium ions.
• Vasodilator: A few patients may have hypotension reaction (cold sweat, palpitation, heart rate acceleration, paleness), please return to the hospital as soon as possible.