What does cardiovascular surgery involve?

Cardiovascular surgery is a branch of medicine that deals with surgical interventions on the heart, blood vessels, and other organs of the circulatory system. Cardiovascular surgeons are responsible for diagnosing, treating, and managing a wide range of cardiovascular conditions, including coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, congenital heart defects, and peripheral vascular disease.

Various surgical procedures are performed in cardiovascular surgery to repair, replace, or reconstruct damaged or diseased cardiovascular structures. These include:

1. Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG): This procedure is commonly performed to treat coronary artery disease, where narrowed or blocked coronary arteries restrict blood flow to the heart. During CABG, the surgeon grafts healthy blood vessels from other parts of the body, usually the leg or arm, to bypass the blocked coronary arteries and restore blood flow to the heart.

2. Valve Repair or Replacement: When heart valves become damaged or diseased, they may require repair or replacement. During valve repair, the surgeon may reshape the valve leaflets, remove obstructions, or tighten the supporting structures to restore proper valve function. In cases where repair is not feasible, a valve replacement may be performed, where the diseased valve is replaced with a mechanical or biological prosthetic valve.

3. Aortic Aneurysm Repair: An aortic aneurysm is a bulging or weakening of the aorta, the main artery carrying blood from the heart to the rest of the body. If the aneurysm becomes too large or ruptures, it can be life-threatening. Aortic aneurysm repair involves surgically reinforcing or replacing the weakened section of the aorta to prevent rupture.

4. Atrial Fibrillation Ablation: Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is a common heart rhythm disorder that can lead to irregular and rapid heartbeats. During AFib ablation, the surgeon uses heat or cold to ablate (destroy) the tissue in the heart that causes the abnormal electrical signals. This aims to restore a normal heart rhythm.

5. Congenital Heart Defect Repair: Congenital heart defects are structural abnormalities of the heart present at birth. These defects can range from mild to severe and may require surgical correction. Cardiovascular surgeons perform specialized surgeries to repair these defects, such as closing holes between chambers of the heart, repairing malformed heart valves, and reconstructing abnormal blood vessel connections.

6. Peripheral Vascular Surgery: Peripheral vascular surgery involves the treatment of diseases affecting blood vessels outside the heart. This includes conditions such as carotid artery disease (narrowing of the arteries supplying blood to the brain), deep vein thrombosis (blood clots in deep leg veins), and peripheral artery disease (narrowing or blockage of arteries in the legs or arms). Surgical interventions include angioplasty, stenting, bypass surgery, and endarterectomy to restore blood flow and improve circulation.

Cardiovascular surgery requires specialized training and expertise, and it's performed in dedicated cardiovascular surgical units within hospitals. Surgeons work closely with cardiologists, radiologists, and other specialists to provide comprehensive care to patients with cardiovascular diseases.