Heart surgery, also known as cardiac surgery, is a medical procedure designed to address a range of heart-related issues that cannot be effectively treated with medications or lifestyle changes alone. It may involve repairing congenital or acquired damage, such as a hole in the heart, or correcting heart valve problems that regulate blood flow and maintain blood pressure.

More commonly, heart surgeries may include the implantation of devices like stents to stabilise and normalise heart function. In severe cases, a heart transplant may be necessary, where a healthy donor's heart replaces a damaged one to restore life-saving functionality. In this article, we will gain detailed insights into the heart surgery procedure, risks and recovery.

Why is Heart Surgery Performed?
Common Types of Heart Surgery
Is Heart Surgery the Right Option for You?
What You Need to Know to Prepare for Heart Surgery
Complications and Risks that May Arise
Did You Know
Essential Steps for Recovering After Heart Surgery
Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Heart Surgery Performed?

Heart surgery is performed to address abnormalities in heart function that cannot be managed with medication or lifestyle changes. Its goal is to stabilise the heart's rhythm, ensuring it is neither too slow nor too fast, while also enhancing the heart's ability to pump blood effectively, maintaining adequate blood pressure and supplying oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.

Depending on the issue, surgery may clear arterial blockages or stabilise irregular heartbeats. Cardiologists recommend various surgical options based on the underlying cause of the heart problem and the body's response to less invasive treatments like heart medications.

Any number of factors can weigh in on a recommendation for a heart surgery, including:

Overall health
Age of the patient
Susceptibility to complicating factors such as diabetes or a history of heart trouble
The number and duration of symptoms, if there
Family history of heart and health problems
Activity levels

Angina, pain associated with reduced blood flow to the chest, shortness of breath without much physical exertion, and arrhythmia, the irregular beating of the heart, are all indications that you must consult with a cardiologist or heart surgeon immediately.

Common Types of Heart Surgery

Heart surgery varies across patients depending on their symptoms and underlying causes. Cardiac surgery has evolved to be specific to different heart concerns over the last few decades. The most commonly performed types of heart surgery are:

Heart Surgery

Open Heart Surgery:

Open heart surgery is a traditional and invasive procedure where the chest is opened to access the heart and surrounding blood vessels. It is commonly used to address issues with the heart muscle, arteries, or valves. During the surgery, a heart-lung machine temporarily takes over the heart's function, oxygenating the blood while the heart is temporarily stopped for precision.

Common procedures include heart valve surgery and the correction of congenital defects like holes in the heart walls. Over time, open heart surgery has become safer, significantly reducing heart disease-related mortality, and its decreasing cost has made it a widely trusted solution for improving patient outcomes.

Heart Bypass Surgery:

Coronary artery bypass surgery is a common procedure used to treat coronary artery disease (CAD), where plaque or blockages hinder blood flow to the heart. The surgery involves grafting a healthy artery to bypass the blocked section, allowing blood to flow freely and restoring normal heart function. CAD typically results from the hardening of arteries due to fat buildup, leading to symptoms like chest pain, tightness, or shortness of breath, and it can often lead to a heart attack. Early diagnosis allows doctors to recommend bypass surgery as a preventive solution.

Heart Transplant Surgery:

Heart transplant surgery is considered when other treatment options have been exhausted, typically in cases of severe heart failure. It is recommended for conditions such as irreparable cardiomyopathy or congenital heart defects. The procedure requires a suitable match between the donor and recipient in terms of blood and tissue types. Even with a perfect match, anti-rejection medication is necessary to help the recipient’s body accept the transplanted heart.

Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery Procedures:

Minimally invasive heart surgeries are safer and carry a lower risk of complications compared to traditional open-heart surgeries. One of the key advantages is the significantly shorter recovery time. These procedures involve smaller incisions around the chest, avoiding the need to open up the heart cavity entirely. Remarkably, even complex surgeries like coronary artery bypass can now be performed using minimally invasive techniques, reducing trauma to the body and promoting quicker recovery.

Paediatric Heart Surgery:

Paediatric cardiac surgery refers to procedures performed on children born with heart defects or those who develop them later in life. While particularly delicate in infants, advancements in medical technology have made these surgeries safer with high success rates. The procedures may include heart transplants or closed-heart surgeries (thoracotomy), where an incision is made between the ribs without the need to open the rib cage.

Heart valve issues can arise from various factors, necessitating correction or replacement. The four key heart valves involved in such surgeries are the mitral, tricuspid, pulmonary, and aortic valves, which ensure the proper flow of blood between the heart chambers and the body. Surgical options for these issues include annuloplasty, which addresses a loose valve ring, and valvuloplasty, which corrects stiffened or fused valve flaps.

Is Heart Surgery the Right Option for You?

To be considered for heart surgery, candidates need to meet certain criteria, including their age, overall health, the severity of their heart condition, and the symptoms they're experiencing. A heart specialist will also take into account the patient's readiness to make lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and cutting down on alcohol. It’s worth noting that older patients may face a more challenging recovery compared to younger ones.

If you're dealing with symptoms like fainting, chest pain, shortness of breath, or fatigue, heart surgery might be a viable option. It's important to have an open conversation with your doctor about what to expect during recovery and any lifestyle adjustments needed to help you live your best, healthiest life post-surgery.

What You Need to Know to Prepare for Heart Surgery

Heart surgery procedure is life-changing and can reduce the limitations imposed by heart conditions, enabling patients to lead a better quality of life. However, preparing for surgery involves several important adjustments. One of the key steps is appointing a caregiver to assist throughout the recovery period, which can last several months for some individuals. In cases of unconsciousness or severe shortness of breath, it is essential to have someone contact the doctor while performing emergency measures.

Additionally, patients should aim to quit smoking two to three weeks before surgery and incorporate light exercises to improve blood circulation and regulate blood pressure prior to the operation. Adopting a healthier lifestyle overall is crucial. Certain medications that may interfere with the surgery or anaesthesia must also be stopped in advance. These measures help the body prepare for the stress of heart surgery, an invasive procedure that places considerable strain on the body.

Complications and Risks that May Arise

Heart surgery procedure risks and complications are possible after heart surgery and varies from patient to patient.

The side effects of open heart surgery include:

Infections: These are rare but possible. They may occur in patients who have undergone heart surgery in a nonsterile hospital environment or may be due to contagion.

Angina: Chest pain is a usual symptom that necessitates cardiac surgery but may also show up as a side effect. It may happen due to venous thrombosis and will be resolved by doctors if it occurs when the patient is under observation after surgery.

Blood clots: Clots in veins can arise after surgery for several reasons, and these can cause angina and, in severe cases, myocardial infarction. The risk of such an incident is rare today, but it is recommended to monitor the occurrence of such symptoms by observing a patient after heart surgery.

Internal bleeding: In case of incorrect placement of a stent or a different medical device during cardiac surgery, bleeding near the heart region might occur. It may be either a haematoma that forms clots or a haemorrhage, which is active bleeding and needs to be stemmed to prevent blood from leaking into the surrounding tissue. The chances of haematomas can increase for patients receiving anticoagulation drugs prior to heart surgery.

Organ failure: In the case of older patients, trying to stimulate the heart can cause failure in the kidneys. Susceptibility to such may also be due to factors unrelated to age and have been seen during coronary bypass heart surgeries.

Over the last two decades, open-heart surgery and closed-heart surgery have become significantly more sophisticated. Continuous monitoring of all vital signs and non-vital health-related symptoms allows for preparedness for eventualities such as severe side effects. Heart surgery has become safer and is now commonly offered by some of the top heart surgeons in India and abroad as a more or less mainstream solution for heart trouble.

Did You Know

Some heart surgery patients are given "pre-surgery counselling" to help them mentally prepare for the procedure, significantly improving recovery outcomes.

The "Micra" pacemaker is smaller than a AAA battery and is implanted directly into the heart with no need for wires, drastically reducing infection risks.

Essential Steps for Recovering After Heart Surgery

Open heart surgery recovery time can be a stressful period; overall recovery will take a few weeks to a few months, based on care provided post-operation, genetic preclusion of heart disease, and postoperative stresses in life that might hamper open heart surgery recovery by countering its benefits, and consistent care towards lifestyle and overall well being.

The following are the heart surgery procedure recovery recommendations provided by the best cardiac surgeons in India on our medical staff:

Quit smoking: It is hard to wean a patient off a particular long-term habit such as smoking, and this change must be made to their lifestyle even before heart surgery.
Incision care: The skin around the incisions during surgery may become swollen, red, itchy, or even open up or ooze fluid, making it necessary to continue monitoring the area after the procedure.
Pain management: Some patients may experience pain after open heart surgery, and efficient medication aids in less stressful recovery and quicker healing.
General lifestyle changes: Open heart surgery recovery time may be reduced if a diet that lowers inflammation levels and light exercises that aid blood pressure and circulatory balance are incorporated into daily life.

Precautions to Take After Heart Surgery

Exercise after open heart surgery should be light and not involve raising the arms over the head for very long durations or heavy lifting
Medications must be taken after consultation with a cardiologist who will determine if it can negatively affect heart health
Diet after open heart surgery should be wholesome, lack processed foods if possible, and be anti-inflammatory for the body. An open heart surgery diet plan would typically include a diet rich in heart-healthy fats and protein such as oily fish, legumes and nuts, and reduce acidity and gastric complications causing foods high in processed sugar, saturated fats and cholesterol;
The presence of a caregiver would be highly recommended in case of an open heart surgery procedure to prevent sudden occurrences of symptoms such as loss of consciousness

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