Guide
Some people, in certain cases, have to undergo open-heart surgery, so why should they? What are the steps of the process? Is it dangerous? Learn the most important of this information now.
Open heart surgery is one of the operations that scares people the most. As soon as its name is mentioned, facial features change, but do you know the exact information about it?
What is open heart surgery?
Open-heart surgery is a major operation that requires a stay in the hospital for a week or more, and it is one of the common operations among adults during which the chest is cut open in order to access the heart muscle, its valves, or the arteries connected to it.
It is worth noting that open heart surgery is one of the traditional operations, meaning that in modern times it has become possible to perform this operation by making a small incision in the chest without opening it completely.
When do you need open heart surgery?
The primary goal of open-heart surgery is to improve blood flow to heart muscle tissue through what''s known as coronary artery bypass (CABG), the most common type of open-heart surgery.
This process may be important for people with coronary artery disease, when the blood vessels that supply oxygen to the heart become narrowed and hardened.
The hardening of the blood vessels is due to the accumulation of deposits resulting from fats on the walls of the blood vessels, causing them to narrow, and thus the difficulty of blood flow through them, and in this case the blood flow to the heart decreases, and the person may suffer a heart attack.
Open heart surgery is also used in the following cases
Repair or replace the heart valves that allow blood to flow through the heart.
Repair of damage in some parts of the heart.
Implantation of a medical device that regulates the heart rate.
Replacing a damaged heart with another from a donor in what is called a heart transplant.
Repair of congenital heart defects.
Risks of open heart surgery
There are some risks associated with undergoing open heart surgery, as follows
Infection in the incision made in the chest area.
heart attack
Irregular heartbeat.
Lung or kidney failure.
Chest pain and low body temperature.
Confusion and memory loss.
blood clots
blood loss
difficulty breathing.
Pneumonia.
Allergic reaction to anesthesia.
bleeding.
Damage to the surrounding blood vessels.
brain attack.
Prepare for open heart surgery
In the beginning, it is important to inform your doctor of any medication you are taking, even if it is sold without a prescription, or any vitamins and herbs you are taking.
It''s also important to tell your doctor about any illnesses you have, even if it''s just a cold or flu, and don''t forget to tell them if you drink alcohol.
Two weeks before the procedure, the doctor will ask you to
Stop smoking and drinking alcohol.
Stop taking blood-thinning medications, such as: aspirin, ibuprofen, and warfarin.
A day before undergoing the operation, the doctor may ask you to shower with a certain type of soap that kills the bacteria on your skin, in order to reduce the risk of infection. The doctor may also ask you to refrain from eating and drinking after midnight.
The doctor may also need to perform tests before the operation, such as: monitoring the heart or taking blood samples, in addition to giving intravenous fluids.
How is open heart surgery performed?
Normally, open heart surgery takes 3-6 hours or more.
During the process, the following is done
The patient is completely anesthetized so that he does not feel pain during the procedure.
The surgeon makes a 20-25 centimeter incision in the lower center of the chest.
The surgeon cuts and separates some of the bones of the rib cage to expose the heart.
The patient is connected to a medical device called a heart-lung bypass machine when the heart becomes visible, as it works to transfer blood away from the heart so that the surgeon can complete the operation, but in some modern operations this device is not used.
The surgeon uses a healthy blood vessel to a new route for blood to flow away from the closed vessel.
The rib cage bones are closed and the incision in the chest is sutured.
Post open heart surgery
After completing the procedure and when you wake up, you will notice that there are two or three tubes connected to your chest, which contribute to the drainage of fluids from the area around your heart.
It is possible that the doctor will give you a tube in your arm that feeds you, and another tube into your bladder in order to empty it, and you will also be connected to a medical device that evaluates the functioning of your heart.
After the open-heart surgery, you will spend the first night in the intensive care unit, in order to receive the necessary medical care, and then you will be transferred to another room for 3-7 days.
Recovery from open heart surgery
It is important to take good care of yourself after you go home, and this includes the following:
1. Take care of the wound
Taking care of the wound is very important after undergoing the operation, as it is necessary to keep the wound area warm and dry, and do not forget to wash your hands before touching them.
If you notice that the wound is healing properly and is not draining, you can take a bath, observing the following conditions:
The shower period is less than 10 minutes.
Use warm water, not hot.
Do not direct water directly to the wound area.
It is also necessary to constantly monitor the wound to make sure that it does not have any infection and inflammation, so you should watch for the following symptoms:
Large filtration wound.
An opening in the wound.
Redness around the wound area.
High body temperature.
2. Pain relief
Pain is a common symptom associated with open heart surgery, so controlling it is very important.
Your doctor may prescribe a pain reliever, so take it as directed.
3. Get enough sleep
Some patients suffer from sleep problems after open heart surgery, but it is important to maintain good sleep hours and relaxation. You can do this by the following:
Take painkillers half an hour before bedtime.
Arrange the pillows under you so you can get a comfortable sleep.
Avoid consuming caffeinated drinks, especially in the evening hours.
