As you are brought into the operating room for your open heart surgery, you can expect the room to be slightly cold, usually 60-65 degrees. Blankets will be available to keep you warm. On the operating room table, you will lie on your back. In order to provide for your safety on the narrow operating table, a safety belt may be placed around you. An automatic blood pressure cuff will be placed on your arm, and a pulse oximeter, which checks oxygen levels in your blood, will be taped to your finger.

 

From the table, you will see several heart monitors, bright operating lights, tables of sterile instruments, the cardiac bypass machine, and other equipment (such as anesthesia equipment). During this time, you may also hear many strange noises, such as loud, high- and low-pitched beeps. These are all normal and are of no cause for concern.