Sizing and Fitting Instructions

Simple, lightweight and comfortable, Heart Hugger gives patients wound support whenever they need it, making recovery faster and safer.

Use Velcro® chest strap to adjust handles on each side so they are one hand width apart; fingertip to fingertip. Handles that touch or pass each other when squeezed are too loose.
Use the Velcro® retention straps (above and below handles) to hold handles in place.
Patient squeezes handles together with fingertips only, whenever they cough, sneeze or move.
Adjust shoulder straps so handles are at mid-sternum. (Shoulder straps are detachable.) For women: handles go above the breasts.
Handles are parallel to each other, evenly spaced away from wound. If patient slides down when their bed is raised, HH may ride in back and handles will be too low: have patient lean forward while you tug down on the back of the chest strap to bring handles to mid-sternum.
Pouch can be used for telemetry unit.
Sizing
For Men: measure around the nipple line GT 500–Small GT 1000-Regular GT 1500-Large GT 2000-X-large
For Women: measure around the chest
above the breasts 		22”-38” 36”-55” 45”-72” 50”-90”
55-96 cm 91-138 cm 114-181 cm 127-228 cm

The easiest way to fit Heart Hugger is in pre-operative orientation. This will allow you and your caregiver the opportunity to watch the instructional video and practice Heart Hugger use.

After surgery: Do not attempt to fit or put on Heart Hugger by yourself! Get help!

Heart Hugger is generally fitted to you right after extubation in the ICU. Have your caregiver help fit you with Heart Hugger only after they have had a chance to watch the training video or review these instructions. Have your Caregiver slide one of the handles under your arm bringing the shoulder strap over the shoulder. There is a backpack clip to release shoulder strap so it can go under any lead lines or tubes. Place handle at mid-sternum. Next, sit forward, away from the back of the bed; your Caregiver will feed the other handle across your back making sure the chest strap material lies flat against your back.

You can then lie back against the bed. Have the Caregiver go to the other side of the bed and unclip the shoulder strap with the backpack type clips and put the handle underneath their arm while putting the shoulder strap under any lead lines or tubes; reconnecting it back to the chest strap and tightening or loosening the shoulder strap as needed to keep the handles at mid-sternum. This will keep you from having to lift your arms away from your torso.

(IMPORTANT: Never try to reach back to put your arm through the shoulder strap (like trying to put on a jacket)! This can result in injuring or aggravating your wound. Always keep your elbows close to your side and never raise them above your shoulders until your Doctor says that you can.)

Your caregiver places the Velcro® retention straps above and below the handles to keep the handles in place. Ideally you want symmetrical placement of the handles so that they are parallel to each other and evenly spaced away from your sternal wound, about one of your hands width apart. If adjustment is necessary, disconnect the retention straps and slide the handles closer together or farther apart.

Practice squeezing the handles together with fingertips only. Do not wrap your whole hand around the handles as your knuckles can rub against your wound.

The most common problem with the handle adjustment is that they are too close together. If the handles are too close together the chest strap will not tighten up enough to give you the support you need. To adjust, slide handles farther apart with the Velcro® chest strap, reattaching the retention straps above and below the handles as necessary.

For Women, the handles rest above the breasts not around them. The handles might be a bit flared out at the bottom. This is OK as long as you can get to them with your fingertips so you can squeeze the handles together and tighten the chest strap. The retention straps can also offer women side support and more comfort with a snug fit.

Sometimes as you slide down when your bed is elevated, the back of Heart Hugger can ride up towards your shoulders. The handles may become flared at the bottom or too low to offer support when squeezed. Do Not Attempt to adjust by yourself! Have your caregiver help you sit forward from the back of the bed just enough to pull downward on the back of the chest strap in the back, bringing the handles into proper alignment. Securing the bottom retention strap should eliminate this problem.