His first wife, Julia, died in 1974 of a cerebral hemorrhage caused by an anticoagulant she was taking after heart surgery; Mr. Cook wrote about it in "Julia's Story: The Tragedy of an Unnecessary Death."

In order to take proper care of the incision after heart surgery, it is important to:

Mr. Phraner said he agreed to the treatment because he was already taking six pills a day after heart surgery and prostate cancer and did not want to keep taking proton-pump inhibitors indefinitely.

Aspirin and Heart Bypass Taking aspirin shortly after heart bypass surgery was found to greatly cut a patient's risk of death or serious complications.

This drug should not be taken right before or after heart bypass surgery (CABG).