During open heart surgery, the chest is opened up to allow direct access to the heart so that the heart specialist can perform the surgery. Usually an incision 8 to 10 inches long is made to reach the heart. The length of the incision, on the other hand, is significantly dependent on the treatment. Dr. Sanjay Kumar, the best heart doctor in Faridabad gives an interesting insigts on the risks of open-heart surgery, what to do to prepare, and the required for recovery.
- The patient is given general anesthesia to ensure they are pain-free throughout the operation.
- In the chest, an 8 to 10 inch incision is made.
- For direct access to the heart, an incision is made through all or part of the sternum.
- A heart-lung machine is linked to the patient as soon as access to the heart is feasible. This device aids in the removal of blood from the heart, which is required during open heart surgery. However, this machine is not used in all cases. Today almost 98% of bypass surgeries are performed without a pump.
- The surgeon will utilise a healthy vein or artery to create a new path around the obstructed artery.
- The surgeon then closes the breastbone and removes the sewing wire from the body.
- They finally sew the initial cut.
Advances in medical science have introduced new techniques such as laparoscopic or minimally invasive procedures, although only a small percentage of patients are qualified to do so, open heart procedures are still used regularly to treat many heart conditions.
The following procedures are performed during open heart surgery:
- Bypassing blocked arteries (bypass surgery).
- Heart valve repair or replacement.
- Closing holes in the heart (congenital heart defects)
- Repairing heart vessels
- Repairing damaged or abnormal areas in the heart
- Performing heart transplants
The patient is then transferred to the regular ward for another three days before being discharged on the sixth day.
- How to perform the breathing exercise.
- The necessary daily water intake.
- How to care for the incision/cut so that it heals faster.