Thursday, December 8, 2022

What Is Heart Surgery? A Brief Introduction

 Any procedure involving the heart or the blood arteries that supply it is referred to as a cardiac operation. It is also referred to as heart surgery or cardiovascular surgery. It's a significant process that can enhance heart health and blood flow while giving one a completely new perspective on life. Heart surgery can fix inherited problems (congenital heart disease). Additionally, it can fix problems that surface later in life. The underlying issue or issues that need to be addressed determine the kind of heart surgery one will have. 


Dr. Sujay Shad, the best cardiac surgeon in India, uses his surgical skills and techniques that he has developed over the course of his studies, training, and decades of practice to successfully execute a variety of heart procedures for his patients. However, there are a number of heart diseases and various procedures to treat them are still misinterpreted. This article attempts to clear these out with important insights by the doctor. Continue reading further to know more. 



Symptoms


The symptoms may point to various heart diseases and are not specific. These include: 


  • Breathing difficulty

  • Irregular heartbeats or a "flip-flop" feeling in the chest

  • An increased heartbeat

  • Dizziness or weakness

  • Nausea

  • Sweating

  • Vomiting

  • Fatigue

  • Fainting

  • Bloating

  • Feeling of suffocation (it may feel like heartburn)

  • The ankles or feet may swell rapidly or irregularly, 

  • Cyanosis

  • Poor weight gain

  • Recurrent lung infections



Who is an ideal candidate for Heart Surgery?


  • Cardiac surgery is required for people with a variety of heart issues. These include irregular heart rhythms, dysfunctional heart valves, and obstructions in the vessels that provide blood to the heart.

  • Heart surgery is typically prepared ahead as part of the treatment strategy. This occurs when the doctor  determines that the best or the only approach to cure the heart condition is through surgery. 

  • Sometimes the need for cardiac surgery arises unexpectedly and must be treated as an emergency. This may occur if one experiences a heart attack or is identified as having serious blockages that put one's life in immediate danger. To learn more about heart surgery, book a consultation with Dr. Sujay Shad, one of the best Heart Surgery Doctors in Delhi, at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. 



Types of Heart Disease


  • Aneurysms: A protrusion in the heart muscle or arterial wall is called an aneurysm. The major artery that transports blood from the heart to the parts of the body,  is where this happens. In the abdomen, aortic aneurysms may develop. They rarely develop in the chest.


  • Arrhythmias: An abnormal heartbeat is known as an arrhythmia. The heart may be beating too quickly (tachycardia) or slowly enough (bradycardia). The heart could also beat irregularly. An arrhythmia can damage the heart over time and cause major issues.


  • Congenital Heart Disease: Congenital cardiac disease can take many different forms and affect infants, children, and adults. 


  • Coronary Artery Disease: Some congenital cardiac abnormalities require immediate postpartum treatment. CAD is caused by atherosclerosis, which is a steady accumulation of plaque in the arteries. The heart receives oxygenated blood through three coronary arteries. Their function gets disrupted due to this. It's harmful to have excessive plaque in the coronary arteries. Without adequate blood, the heart cannot receive enough oxygen and nourishment, called  myocardial ischemia. The plaque has the potential to rupture as well, which would cause a blood clot to develop.


  • Heart Failure: Heart failure is a common comorbidity for other cardiovascular diseases. These include excessive blood pressure and coronary artery disease. 


  • Heart Valve Disease: Any one of the four heart valves can develop heart valve disease (tricuspid, pulmonary, mitral or aortic). However, it occurs most frequently in the aortic valve.   


Different types of Heart Surgeries


  • Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG): To reroute blood flow to the heart, CABG uses a healthy blood artery from another part of the body. Typically, arteries from the arms or chest or veins from the legs are used.


  • Heart Valve replacement or repair: A valve that regulates the blood flow can now open wider or close more firmly thanks to this procedure.


  • Aneurysm repair surgery: A graft which is an artificial artery, composed of a particular kind of fabric, replaces the damaged section of the aorta. 


  • Septal myectomy: The septum is slightly split during the procedure. This promotes increased blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta and lessens symptoms. 


  • Atrial fibrillation: The scar tissue is created in the heart. It suppresses the aberrant electrical signals that lead to AFib. Then, the heart can resume its regular rhythm. 


  • Insertion of a device: pacemaker, ICD, LVD, TAH, etc.  are the devices that help the heart to work efficiently. 


  • Heart Transplant Surgery: A heart transplant is a last-resort option for those with end-stage heart failure. It involves swapping the heart out for a donor heart.


What happens before the surgery?


  • Describing the symptoms and how long they have been present.

  • Discussing both the personal and the medical backgrounds of one's biological family.

  • Blood tests to determine cholesterol and other vital statistics.

  • The care team will explain exactly how to get ready and what to expect if one needs surgery.

  • Diagnostic tests will also be performed by the team. These examinations provide a thorough picture of one's heart and any issues. 

  • Computed tomography of the heart (cardiac CT)

  • Magnetic resonance imaging of the heart (heart MRI)

  • A chest X-ray

  • Cardiovascular imaging

  • Echocardiogram (echo) (echo)

  • (ECG/EKG) Electrocardiogram

  • Test for stress



What happens during the surgery?


Depending on the kind of operation one is  having, different factors can be involved. It also depends on the approach the surgeon employs to carry out the procedure. Different techniques are used by surgeons to operate on the heart. These include minimally invasive cardiac surgery, off-pump bypass, and open heart surgery. 


What happens after the surgery? 


Following heart surgery, one will be transferred to the ICU.  The procedure one underwent and how the body reacts to it, will determine how long one needs to stay in the hospital. Recovery  varies for every person. The medical staff will closely monitor to make sure that recovery is going smoothly. Additionally, they are ready to recognize and address any issues that may arise.


A skilled heart surgeon is strongly advised to choose which course of action is best for each individual. The optimal treatment approach would depend on a person's age, other medical disorders like diabetes, kidney disease, aortic calcification, past medical history, etc., according to the doctor. To know heart surgery cost in Delhi, consult Dr. Sujay Shad at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

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