Open heart surgery

Open heart surgery is a type of surgery that involves the heart or large blood vessels connected to it. It is performed by cardiothoracic surgeons to treat complications of ischemic heart disease, correct congenital heart disease, or treat valvular heart disease due to various causes, including endocarditis, rheumatic heart disease, and atherosclerosis. It also includes heart transplantation.

Procedure[edit | edit source]

Open heart surgery is any kind of surgery in which a surgeon makes a large incision (cut) in the chest to open the rib cage and operate on the heart. "Open" refers to the chest, not the heart itself. Depending on the type of surgery, the surgeon also may open the heart.

Types of Open Heart Surgery[edit | edit source]

There are many types of open heart surgeries, including:

Risks and Complications[edit | edit source]

Like any major surgery, open heart surgery carries risks. Potential risks include:

Infection
Bleeding
Irregular heart rhythms
Stroke
Memory loss or trouble thinking clearly, which often improves within six to 12 months
Kidney failure
Death

Recovery[edit | edit source]

Recovery from open heart surgery involves managing pain and minimizing the risk of complications. This often includes a stay in the intensive care unit and use of a ventilator to assist breathing.

See Also[edit | edit source]

Open heart surgery Resources
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