How Effective Is Open Heart Surgery

Open heart surgery is a type of surgery where the chest is cut open, and surgery is performed on the muscles, valves, or arteries of the heart. The patient is connected to a heart-lung bypass machine, or bypass pump during the procedure. Clinical trials have suggested that the surgery increases survival rates for patients with advanced stages of coronary artery disease. The benefits of open-heart surgery include having less or no chest pain, it lowers the chance of a heart attack, and the patient tends to feel more energetic for physical activities. 

Open heart surgery is a major operation that requires a hospital stay of a week or more. While it is an intensive surgery, the risk of mortality is shallow. It can cause some discomfort around the cut and in the muscles, including itching, tightness, and numbness along the incision. After recovery, patients can find an improvement in symptoms, such as chest pain and breathlessness. The surgery also reduces the risk of a heart attack.    

After open-heart surgery, your body must heal for several weeks, and you need to take rest as suggested by the doctor. Do not drive a car until your surgeon gives you a green signal. Some patients may have complications like a heart valve infection that might necessitate another surgery. Over time, even successful valve replacements and coronary artery bypasses may need a re-operation. 

While open-heart surgery cannot cure heart disease, it should relieve chest pain and help you live longer. Patients with serious coronary artery disease who undergo bypass surgery are nearly 50% more likely to be alive in five years than patients who receive drug treatment alone. 

It would help if you looked for the best cardiology hospital in India for open-heart surgery. There are several options available online where you can find a suitable cardiology hospital in your area by doing a specific search.