Cardiac surgery is a medical procedure to treat heart problems. The operations performed in these procedures are diverse and may include, but are not limited to, coronary bypass surgery, heart valve repair or replacement, and correction of congenital heart defects.
These procedures are often considered high risk due to the complexity of the procedures and the risks inherent in any surgical procedure. However, it should be noted that heart surgery can also save lives by effectively treating heart disease, which is the leading cause of death worldwide.
There are different types of heart surgery, each tailored to a specific type of heart disease. For example, coronary artery bypass surgery is a procedure in which a blocked coronary artery is bypassed using a blood vessel taken from another part of the body. This procedure is often used to treat angina and coronary artery disease.
Heart valve repair or replacement is another common procedure to correct problems with leaky or narrowed heart valves. This procedure can be performed using artificial valves or donor tissue.
Congenital heart defect correction is a procedure to correct heart defects that are present at birth. These defects may include septal defects, malformations of the valves or arteries of the heart. Correcting these defects can help prevent complications and improve the quality of life of affected patients.
Definition and Meaning
Cardiac surgery is a branch of medicine that specializes in the correction of diseases and problems related to the heart and blood vessels. It can include heart valve repair or replacement, repair of congenital heart defects, coronary artery bypass surgery for the treatment of coronary artery disease, aortic repair and other procedures to treat cardiovascular disease. Cardiac surgeries are often complex procedures and require a team of highly trained health care professionals, such as cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists and critical care nurses. Modern technology has made these procedures safer and more effective, with high success rates for many procedures.
Types of heart surgery
There are several types of heart surgery, including:
- coronary artery bypass surgery,
- Heart valve repair or replacement,
- correction of congenital heart defects.
Coronary bypass surgery
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is surgery to restore blood flow to the heart by using a bypass (graft) to bypass blocked coronary arteries.
Heart valve repair or replacement
Mitral valve stenosis or aortic valve insufficiency are diseases that can cause heart valve damage or dysfunction. Repair or replacement of these valves can improve heart function and save lives.
Correction of congenital heart defects
Congenital heart defects are abnormalities present at birth. Surgery can correct these defects to improve heart function and save lives.
Bottom line
Heart surgeries are vital surgical procedures for people with heart disease. Although these surgeries are often considered high-risk procedures, they can save lives by correcting heart problems. It is important to talk with your doctor to understand the potential risks and benefits of different types of heart surgery.