How long does open heart surgery take?
How long does open heart surgery take? Heart surgery usually takes three to six hours, depending on how complex the operation is. For traditional open-heart surgery: A breathing tube will be placed in your lungs through your throat. The tube is connected to a ventilator, which helps you breathe. How do they open a chest for heart surgery? A breathing tube will be placed in your lungs through your throat. The tube will connect to a ventilator (a machine that supports breathing). Your surgeon will make a 6- to 8-inch incision (cut) down the center of your chest wall. Then,...