Cardiac surgery encompasses a wide array of procedures that include:
Coronary Artery Bypass - when blood is unable to flow easily through the arteries of your heart, you may need to undergo coronary artery bypass surgery. The heart delivers oxygen throughout your body by pumping blood through your arteries. When the coronary arteries of your heart contain blockages, portions of your heart may be deprived of oxygen and, if severe enough, may actually die. Coronary bypass surgery involves placing artery and/or vein grafts around these blockages to improve the blood supply to your heart muscle.
Valve Replacement - heart valve surgery is used to repair or replace diseased heart valves.
There are four valves in your heart:
1. Aortic valve
2. Mitral valve
3. Tricuspid valve
4. Pulmonary valve
The valves control the direction of blood flow through your heart. The opening and closing of the heart valves produce the sound of the heartbeat. Heart valve surgery is open-heart surgery that is done while you are under general anesthesia. A cut is made through your breast bone. Your blood is routed away from your heart to a heart-lung bypass machine. This machine keeps the blood circulating while your heart is being operated on. Valves may be repaired or replaced.
Congenital Cardiac Repairs-- A congenital heart defect is a problem with the structure of the heart. It is present at birth. Congenital heart defects are the most common type of major birth defect. Treatment for the defect can include medicines, surgery and other medical procedures and heart transplants. The treatment depends on the type and severity of the defect and a child's age, size and general health. Today, many children born with complex heart defects grow to adulthood and lead productive lives.
Aortic Diseases - many diseases and conditions can cause the aorta to dilate (widen) or can cause aortic dissection (tear) increasing your risk for future life-threatening events. These conditions that can lead to aortic aneurysm and aortic dissection include:
• Hardening of the arteries
• High blood pressure
• Genetic conditions
• Connective tissue disorders
• Injury
These are just a few of the cardiac problems that can lead to surgery, If you have a concern or problem you should contact a cardiac surgeon in your area to discuss you problem and the options available to you.
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