Open-heart surgery is any type of surgery where the chest is cut open and surgery is performed on the muscles, valves, or arteries of the heart. During this you are connected to a heart-lung bypass machine, meaning your heart is stopped while this machine does the work of your heart and lungs as you have surgery done.
When is open-heart surgery needed?
Open-heart surgery may be done for CABG (coronary artery bypass graft), which can usually occur when the blood vessels that provide blood and oxygen to the heart muscle become narrow and hard. As fatty material forms on the walls of the coronary arteries, they make it difficult for blood to get through the arteries. If blood can’t flow properly to the heart, a heart attack may occur. Open-heart surgery is also done to:
Repair or replace heart valves, which allow blood to travel through the heart
Repair damaged or abnormal areas of the heart
Implant medical devices that help the heart beat properly
Replace a damaged heart with a donated heart (heart transplantation)
How is open-heart surgery performed?
A CABG procedure takes from three to six hours. It’s generally done following these basic steps:
The patient is given general anesthesia. This ensures that they will be asleep and pain-free through the whole surgery.
The cardiologic surgeon makes an 8- to 10-inch cut in the chest.
The surgeon cuts through all or part of the patient’s breastbone to expose the heart.
Once the heart is visible, the patient may be connected to a heart-lung bypass machine. The machine moves blood away from the heart so that the surgeon can operate. Some newer procedures do not use this machine.
The surgeon uses a healthy vein or artery to make a new path around the blocked artery.
The surgeon closes the breastbone with wire, leaving the wire inside the body.
The original cut is stitched up.
Sometimes sternal plating is done for people at high risk, such as those who’ve had multiple surgeries or people of advanced age. Sternal plating is when the breastbone is rejoined with small titanium plates after the surgery.
What are the risks of open-heart surgery?
Risks for open-heart surgery include:
chest wound infection (more common in patients with obesity or diabetes, or those who’ve had a CABG before)
Heart attack or stroke
Irregular heartbeat
Lung or kidney failure
Chest pain and low fever
Memory loss or “fuzziness”
Blood clot
Blood loss
Breathing difficulty
Pneumonia
The heart-lung bypass machine is associated with increased risks. These risks include stroke and neurological problems.
The long-term outlook for open-heart surgery
Expect a gradual recovery. It may take up to six weeks before you start feeling better, and up to six months to feel the full benefits of the surgery. However, the outlook is good for many people, and the grafts can work for many years.
Nevertheless, surgery does not prevent artery blockage from happening again. You can help improve your heart health by:
Eating a healthy diet
Cutting back on foods high in salt, fat, and sugar
Leading a more active lifestyle
Not smoking
Controlling high blood pressure and high cholesterol
Conclusion
Open heart surgery is a significant medical procedure that has the potential to greatly enhance the quality of life for patients suffering from chronic cardiac conditions. Despite the inherent risks associated with such a major intervention, the majority of patients experience positive outcomes, including extended lifespans and improved health. This success is largely attributable to the continuous advancements in surgical techniques and post-operative care, which have evolved to provide safer and more effective treatments for heart-related ailments.
Read more:
