According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), thousands of people undergo some type of heart surgery every day. Some of these surgeries, such as those performed to repair damaged valves, are minimally invasive and considered minor. Others, such as heart transplants, are more extensive. Many types of cardiac surgery exist, some of which are implemented more frequently.
Angioplasty
An angioplasty is a less-invasive procedure performed for a variety of reasons that include relief from chest pain and reducing the risk of a heart attack. It may also be performed to help you increase your ability to perform physical activity. During an angioplasty, a small balloon is inserted into an artery that is narrowed or clogged, forcing it to open which allows for greater blood flow to the heart. In many cases, this procedure is performed in an attempt to avoid performing more extensive surgery such as coronary artery bypass.
In most cases, a stent (wire mesh) is implanted during an angioplasty to help prevent another blockage from occurring. The procedure may last 30 minutes, or can take several hours. However, patients are only required to be hospitalized overnight in most cases.
Heart Valve Surgery
Considered a minimally invasive form of cardiac surgery, heart valve surgery either repairs or replaces damaged valves. According to the Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin, in some cases, this surgery may need to be performed as an open-heart procedure.
The less-invasive procedure offers a reduced risk of complications along with less pain, a shorter hospital stay and a decreased recovery time. In many instances, the mitral valve can be repaired or replaced using the minimally invasive procedure, which only requires two small incisions. When performed in the traditional manner, one long incision is made through the sternum.
According to the American Heart Association, this type of cardiac surgery is common. However, patients who receive an artificial valve rather than having their own valves repaired are at a greater risk for developing a condition known as endocarditis, an infection of the valve
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is a cardiac surgery performed when the arteries become clogged, blocking the flow of blood to the heart. The goal of the surgery is to create a new pathway for the blood to flow. This is accomplished by removing an artery or vein from another area of your body, such as your legs, and attaching it to your coronary artery, the main supplier of blood to your heart.
The American Heart Association states that this is the most common and effective procedure used to treat the block of blood flow to your heart. One or more bypasses can be performed during a single procedure, depending on the number of arteries that are clogged, and several days in the hospital with follow-up cardiac rehabilitation therapy are required for recovery.
Heart Transplant
Heart transplants are a form of major cardiac surgery and are performed when the heart is irreversibly damaged. This may be due to multiple heart attacks, long-term heart failure, heart muscle disease or viral infections. As stated by the American Heart Association, the patient must be at risk of dying before being considered for a heart transplant. The hearts used are from healthy people who choose to be organ donors. Receiving a healthy heart can offer a 5-year survival rate for 73 percent of men and 67 percent of women.
