Not all heart-related issues call for surgery. Medications, nonsurgical procedures, or changes in lifestyle can sometimes be used to treat them. For instance, catheter ablation stops abnormal electrical signals from passing through your heart by using energy to create tiny scars in the tissue surrounding your heart. A stent is placed into a constricted or blocked coronary artery to hold it open during a minimally invasive procedure called coronary angioplasty. However, conditions like heart failure, plaque accumulation that partially or completely obstructs coronary artery blood flow, malfunctioning heart valves, dilated or diseased major blood vessels (like the aorta), and irregular cardiac rhythms often call for open-heart surgery.
The most common type of heart surgery is coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). A blocked coronary artery is grafted (attached) to a healthy artery or vein during this procedure. As a result, the grafted artery is able to "bypass" the clogged one and supply the heart with new blood. Open Heart surgery is also known as conventional heart surgery.
In open-heart surgery, the heart's muscles, valves, or arteries are cut open and surgical procedures are carried out. After surgery, taking good care of your incision and yourself is necessary to minimize certain incisions.
What is Open-Heart Surgery?
Heart surgery is a surgical intervention done to treat various heart diseases. Surgeons can reach the heart directly via open-heart surgery. In order to facilitate easier access to the heart for the surgeon during open-heart surgery, the chest wall must be opened. Surgeons split open the sternum, or breastbone, and spread the ribs to gain access to the heart. This is referred to as "cracking the chest" occasionally.One trusted method that surgeons use to operate on the heart is open heart surgery. Depending upon your overall condition, your surgeon might suggest an open procedure. Numerous types of heart surgery can be performed through smaller, less invasive incisions, such as small cuts made on the right side of the chest in between the ribs.
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Open Heart Surgery Indications
You may require open-heart surgery if you are suffering any of the following heart conditions:- Arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation
- Congenital heart defects, including atrial septal defect or hypoplastic left heart syndrome
- Coronary artery disease
- Heart valve disease
- Heart failure
- Thoracic aortic aneurysm
Types of Open-Heart Surgery
Following are the main types of open-heart surgeries:- Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG): In coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), the most common type of heart surgery, the surgeon connects a vein or healthy artery from another part of your body to the blocked coronary artery to supply blood beyond it. Blood can now flow to the heart muscle via a new route that is created when the blocked section of the coronary artery is bypassed by the grafted artery or vein. This is often carried out in conjunction with multiple coronary artery bypass surgeries. Coronary artery bypass surgery, or CABG, is sometimes referred to as a heart bypass.
- Heart valve repair or replacement: Surgeons can choose to replace the valve with a biological valve derived from human, pig, or cow heart tissue, or they can repair the valve entirely. A possible repair involves passing a catheter through a sizable blood vessel, guiding it to the heart, and then expanding and contracting a tiny balloon located at the catheter's tip to widen a narrowed valve.
- Insertion of a pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD): When a patient has arrhythmia, a condition where their heart beats too quickly, too slowly, or irregularly, medication is typically the first line of treatment. A pacemaker with wires connecting it to the heart chambers may be implanted by a surgeon under the skin of the chest or abdomen if medication is ineffective. When a sensor determines that the heart rhythm is abnormal, the device uses electrical pulses to regulate it. Similar in operation, an ICD shocks the patient with electricity to rectify a dangerous arrhythmia.
- Maze Surgery: In order to reroute electrical signals to the lower heart chambers along a precise path, the surgeon makes an arrangement of scar tissue within the heart's upper chambers. The most common kind of serious arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, is prevented from happening by surgery by preventing erroneous electrical impulses.
- Aneurysm repair: To fix a balloon-like bulge in the heart muscle or artery, the weak section of the artery wall or artery is replaced with a patch or graft.
- Heart transplant: A healthy heart from a deceased donor is used to replace the damaged heart.
- Insertion of a ventricular assist device (VAD) or total artificial heart (TAH): A mechanical pump called a VAD helps blood flow and heart function. The two lower chambers of the heart are replaced with a TAH.
How is Open Heart Surgery Done?
The open heart surgery procedure involves following steps:- Heart surgery is a complicated procedure. Six hours or more may be needed for certain surgeries. During the procedure, you will be put under anesthesia and remain unconscious.
- A 6- to 8-inch long incision is made in the middle of the chest.
- Breastbone is cut and the rib cage is spread apart to expose the heart.
- Heart is connected to a heart-lung bypass machine (during on-pump surgery)
- During the procedure, an anesthesiologist keeps an eye on you and administers IV medication to stop your heart from beating.
- Then the heart is repaired.
- The blood flow to the heart is restored. Your heart typically begins beating on its own. Occasionally, a small electrical shock is required to restart the heart.
- Heart-lung bypass machine is disconnected.
- Breastbone or other incisions are closed with wires or sutures (that stay in your body).
- Skin incisions are also closed.
Open Heart Surgery Problems Complications
You might spend a day or more in the hospital's intensive care unit (ICU) depending on the procedure. You will be transferred to a standard hospital room when you are prepared. You should anticipate spending a few days in the hospital. How to take care of your incision will be discussed with your heart care team. To protect your chest when you cough, sneeze, or get out of bed, you might require a special firm pillow. Following are the after open heart surgery problems:- Constipation
- Depression
- Mood swings
- Insomnia
- Difficulty sleeping
- Poor appetite
- Memory problems
- Muscle pain in the chest region
- Reactions at the incision site
Open Heart Surgery Recovery
The type of surgery, any complications, and your preoperative health all affect how long you recover from surgery. Recuperation from an open heart procedure can take six to twelve weeks, and in some cases longer. Following heart surgery, some patients must take blood thinners to avoid blood clots. Additionally, your doctor might suggest cardiac rehabilitation. You can improve overall heart health and regain strength and stamina with this medically supervised programme.Conclusion
An open heart surgery procedure can save a person's life. It is a significant surgery, though. It may take a while to recover. Prior to surgery, whenever feasible, you should improve your health by engaging in physical activity, reducing weight, and giving up smoking. These steps might facilitate healing. It's common to be anxious before having cardiac surgery. Talk to your doctor about any questions or concerns you may have.If you experience any unusual symptom associated with the heart, then don’t ignore your symptoms. Book your consultation at Asian Heart Institute for best heart care.
FAQs
Q1: Is open heart surgery safe?A: Adults who have issues with their hearts' valves, arteries supplying the heart, or aneurysms in the main vessel exiting the heart will undergo open heart surgery. Despite being a complex surgery, there are very few chances of mortality associated with it.
Q2: What is open heart surgery time?
A: Heart surgery is a complicated procedure. Six hours or more may be needed for certain surgeries.
