Worried about if you need cardiac surgery? Or wondering when you need cardiac surgery?

Don't worry! Karetrip is here to help you.

But before we get into the topic, let's first understand what cardiac surgery is.

What Is Cardiac Surgery?

• Cardiac surgery is a type of surgery that is performed in the heart which is carried out by cardiac surgeons.
• It is done to treat complicated heart conditions which cannot be treated through medicines.
• The decision whether or not to conduct a cardiac surgery is made only after careful consideration by both the doctor as well as the patient.
• In such a situation, the risk factors which are involved should also be taken into consideration.

This blog will focus on the conditions when a patient needs cardiac surgery as well as the type of surgical procedures associated with it.

Situations Under Which Cardiac Surgery Is Needed

Coronary Artery Disease Coronary Artery Disease or CAD is developed when blood vessels that deliver blood to heart shrinks or constricts . It is the shrinking of coronary arteries.This happens due to buildup of the plaque.

Coronary arteries are the type of blood vessels in our body that supply nutrients and oxygen to muscles of the heart

CAD develops when fats and other materials get deposited or accumulated on inner walls of arteries of the heart which is called atherosclerosis. This is called plaque buildup.

This condition reduces the space in the arteries which decreases the delivery of oxygenated blood to the heart

Symptoms of CAD include:

• Chest pain (angina)
• Shortness of breath
• Fatigue
• Heart attack
• Swelling hands and feet

Smoking or if you are suffering from high levels of BP, diabetes or having heart disease that runs in the family will also make you prone to coronary artery disease.

Inorder to resolve this problem, a surgery called CABG or Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting is done to improve blood circulation to muscles of heart. In this method, the blocked arteries are corrected.

What is CABG?

In this method, the blocked arteries are bypassed with a portion of undamaged blood vessels from anywhere in our body. It can be a leg vein or a chest artery or an artery from the wrist.

This method rejuvenates blood flow to the heart that reduces the risk elements of heart attack as well as chest pain. There are certain risk elements in CABG which are as follows:

• Bleeding in between the surgery or after
• Infection at the area where incision is done
• Breathing issues
• Pneumonia
• Kidney failure
• Abnormal heart beat

Valvular Heart Disease

Valvular heart disease is developed when any of the valve or valves in the heart gets damaged. This impacts the heart blood flow.

This type of heart disease may develop fast or may develop over a long period of time. When the development of the disease is slow, there may not be any symptoms until the situation becomes chronic.

When the condition develops at a faster pace , the following symptoms occur-

• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Dizziness or fainting
• Fever
• Rapid weight gain
• Irregular heart beat

There are several reasons for the development of this condition which includes people being born with it, infections, the effect of age that leads to wearing out of valves and also associated with other types of heart disease.

If the condition is not too complex, medications are only needed to treat the disease but if the disease is chronic surgery may be required.

Surgery will be done depending on the valve which is affected as well as the reasons for the issue. Valve replacement or repair is done in this regard. It can be done by either opening the heart during the procedure or not opening the heart.

What is Valve Replacement or Repair?

In the valve replacement method, the damaged valve is replaced by an artificial valve.

Artificial valves can be made of carbon- coated plastic or tissue that are made from valves of animals or from valves of humans who are donors.

In valve repair, the dysfunctional valve may be repaired by using a ring that aids the damaged valve. Both valve replacement and valve repair increase the heart blood flow and reduce the risk elements associated with the disease.

• Risk elements of the surgery includes
• Bleeding
• Breathing issues
• Blood clots that can cause heart attack, stroke, or lung problems
• The corrected or replaced valve doesn't work correctly

Aortic Aneurysm

Aortic Aneurysm is a bulge in the aorta of a person. Aorta , is the body's main artery that delivers blood from the heart through the chest and torso.

This disease, if untreated, can cause a burst which leads to internal bleeding.

• Symptoms include
• Difficulties or pain in swallowing
• Difficulties in breathing
• Breathing issues
• Swelling of the areas of face, neck, or arms

Disorders and unhealthy lifestyle commonly leads to this disease. Smoking is the main cause of this illness. Other conditions which cause this disease include high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol levels in one's body.

If it's not too serious, medications alone can help in treating the issue. Surgery can be done to resolve the severity or the complexity of the problem. Aortic Aneurysm repair can be done in this regard.

What Do You Mean By Aortic Aneurysm Repair?

Usually in Aortic Aneurysm Repair, an open surgical method is done in which the damaged section of aorta is substituted or replaced with an artificial graft. This prevents the breakage and helps to revive the flow of blood.

There are certain risk factors associated with the surgery which include-

• Bleeding
• Blood clots
• Heart problems
• Kidney damage

Heart Failure

It is a serious condition in which muscles of the heart don't transfer blood that it should necessarily do.

In this condition, blood returns to lungs and fluid piles up in lungs which leads to breathing difficulties.

Bad lifestyle habits such as smoking , alcohol will lead to heart failure. If you have a family history of having heart disease as well as your age do increase the risk of heart failure.

Sometimes symptoms develop slowly and at times it may develop at a faster rate. Symptoms include -

• Shortness of breath with activity or when lying down.
• Fatigue and feeling of weakness
• Rapid or irregular heartbeat.
• Reduced ability to exercise
• Swelling of the belly area.
• Very rapid weight gain from fluid buildup.
• Difficulty in concentrating or alertness get reduced

In cases where medications do not work, surgery will be the last option to save the life of the patient.

Heart transplantation or mechanical devices which are surgically placed in the heart will help to improve proper functioning of the heart. Such devices are done in people for whom transplantation is not possible.

What is Heart Transplantation?

It is a heart surgery in which a damaged heart is substituted with a vigorous heart from a donor. The survival rate in heart transplant is higher if you take necessary follow-up and required precautions.

There are certain risk elements associated with the heart transplantation which are:

• Rejection of the donor heart
• Primary graft failure
• Medication side effects
• Infection

What do you mean by Ventricular Assist Devices or VAD?

Ventricular Assist Devices or VAD are artificial pumps that are placed in your chest through surgery which helps to transport blood from ventricles of the heart to other body parts.

These can be considered as a short term option for those people who are awaiting their heart transplant and a long term option for people who cannot do a heart transplantation.

What Influences the Decision Regarding Surgery ?

Doctors recommend surgery by taking into account of certain factors which are as follows:

• Severity of the issue
• Overall health of the patient and risk factors involved
• Risks related to surgery
• Consideration regarding alternative treatment options