An Exploration Of Different Types Of Heart Surgeries

Each year, hundreds of thousands of people undergo some type of heart surgery. In many cases, the operations are performed in order to correct a congenital defect. In other cases, surgeons seek to treat problems that have emerged over time (e.g. plaque buildup, blood clots, etc.).

The traditional approach was to make a long incision into the patient’s chest and use a saw to cut through her sternum. Then, the ribs were spread apart to allow the surgical team enough room to perform the operation. Today, minimally invasive techniques using small incisions and advanced instruments can perform many procedures without “cracking” the sternum.

Below, we’ll describe the most common types of heart surgeries performed by today’s cardiac surgeons.

Repairing Valves

Your heart is comprised of four chambers. Two upper chambers called atria are separated from two lower chambers called ventricles by valves. The right atrium and ventricle are separated by the tricuspid valve. The left atrium and ventricle are separated by the mitral valve. A pulmonary valve allows blood to move out of the right ventricle. An aortic valve allows blood to move out of the left ventricle.

The valves are made of leaflets. The leaflets open and close, managing the flow of blood and preventing it from flowing backward. If those leaflets do not function properly, blood can leak (a condition called regurgitation) or be prevented from flowing (called stenosis). Surgeons can either repair malfunctioning valves or replace them.

Treating Arrhythmias

An arrhythmia is an abnormal heartbeat. It occurs when your heart’s electrical system develops a problem. For example, if you suffer a heart attack and a portion of the muscle becomes damaged, it can affect the electrical signals traveling throughout your atria and ventricles. That can cause a heartbeat that is too slow, too quick, or inconsistent.

Depending on the type of arrhythmia from which a patient suffers, a surgeon can decide to implant a pacemaker, perform a Maze procedure, or do a catheter ablation.

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

When one of the coronary arteries that supplies blood to the heart becomes clogged with plaque or another deposit, the passageway through the artery becomes constricted. Blood cannot easily flow through. This can lead to angina or heart attack. A surgeon can perform a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) to create another avenue through which blood can reach your heart. The newly-created avenue bypasses the arterial clog.

Heart Transplant

When a patient’s heart has become so damaged or weakened that it cannot maintain its pumping activity, a transplant is necessary. This type of surgery is only done when medications have proven not to work and other surgical procedures have failed to strengthen the muscle. In effect, if the patient does not receive the transplant, she will die.

For most types of heart surgeries, minimally invasive techniques are becoming more common. The recovery time is much lower and there is less chance of bleeding and infection. Speak with your physician regarding any heart problems you are experiencing to determine whether surgery is a viable option.

Related posts:

  1. Mitral Valve: Description and Function
  2. Overview Of Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery
  3. Basics Of Heart Bypass Surgery
  4. Mitral Valve Repair Explained
  5. How Coronary Artery Disease Is Diagnosed