Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery

Last updated date: 18-Aug-2023

Originally Written in English

The heart and thoracic organs are responsible for conducting various activities, including supplying oxygen and vital nutrients within the body. The health of these organs is thus the center of the general good body health. However, certain factors can increase the risk of various acute to life-threatening conditions such as heart attack and stroke. 

In such cases, cardiovascular & thoracic surgery might be the best treatment alternative. This is if the condition is intense and affects the normal functions. The surgical procedure does not only helps restore the impaired functions but also restore the patient’s health. 

 

Definition of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery 

Cardiovascular and thoracic surgery is a surgical operation on the heart and the thoracic or chest organs. Basically, cardiovascular surgery entails the major blood vessels of the heart. On the other hand, thoracic surgery involves the lungs, thymus, esophagus, and other organs within the chest. 

Cardiovascular and thoracic surgeons or specialists thus specialize in diagnosing, treating, and preventing the conditions. They can also perform a wide range of procedures, depending on the type of condition and severity. 

 

Types of Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgeries

There are several types of cardiovascular and thoracic surgeries that surgeons often perform. This, however, depends on various factors, including the condition, affected part of the brain, the patient’s age, and overall health. 

Some of the common types of cardiothoracic surgery procedures include; 

 

Ablation: 

Ablation is a procedure that surgeons use to treat abnormal or irregular heart rates (arrhythmia). It destroys the heart tissues causing irregular heart pulses or prevents abnormal electric signals from getting into the heart. 

Ablation involves the use of a catheter that is inserted into the heart via the artery or vein. It transmits energy in the form of either extreme heat or cold to revamp the heart tissues that trigger arrhythmia. This eventually helps with the irregular heart pulse. 

 

Angioplasty: 

This is a surgical operation to open up the blocked blood vessels (coronary artery) carrying blood to the heart muscle. Doctors usually perform angioplasty if the patient suffers a heart attack due to plaque accumulation. 

Angioplasty procedure involves inserting a small thin tube into the blood vessel in either the patient’s groin or arm. The tube is usually attached to a small balloon at the tip that is directed towards the affected coronary artery. 

After placing it in the exact place, the physician inflates the balloon such that it pushes the plague against the coronary artery wall. This eventually widens the artery and restores the normal flow of blood. 

 

Carotid endarterectomy: 

This is a surgical procedure to address carotid artery disease by removing plaque buildup within the artery in the neck. These arteries are the major blood vessels that transport blood and oxygen towards the brain. Therefore, carotid artery disease narrows down the arteries, hence limiting blood flow towards the brain. This is a severe condition that could result in stroke if not treated sooner. 

To address the condition, doctors perform carotid endarterectomy under local anesthesia when awake or general anesthesia when asleep. The procedure involves creating a small cut or incision on the side of the neck above the altered coronary artery. Through the incision, the doctor removes plaque and stitches the arteries together to restore the blood supply to the brain. 

 

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG): 

CABG involves grafting veins or arteries from a different part of the body to the coronary arteries. These grafts bypass the blocked or the narrowed arteries, hence improving blood supply towards the cardiac muscle. It also helps address angina and minimize risks and complications caused by coronary artery disease. 

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)

Heart transplant: 

This is a surgical procedure to treat or remove either a damaged or diseased heart. It’s then replaced with a new healthier one from the deceased donor.

Usually, a heart transplant is a treatment option for patients with chronic conditions that don’t improve after medication and surgical procedures, resulting in heart failure. Some of the major causes of heart failure include; 

  • Cardiomyopathy (weakening of the heart muscle)
  • Congenital heart defects 
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Heart attack 
  • Heart valve disease 
  • Irregular heart pulses 
  • Pulmonary hypertension 

 

Heart valve repair and replacement procedure: 

These are the surgical operations to treat diseases that develop in one of the aortic valves. Valve repair is often performed to treat and repair congenital valve abnormalities. It involves procedure such as; 

  • Valvuloplasty to strengthen leaflets and give enough support to the valves to allow them to close properly
  • Commissurotomy to address narrowed or blocked valves in a situation where the leaflets thicken or stick together. 
  • Reshaping: Surgeons can perform reshaping after cutting out part of the leaflet to enables the valves to close properly. 
  • Patching tears and holes in the leaflets using a tissues patch 
  • Decalcification to extract calcium accumulation in the leaflets to allow them to close well 

On the other hand, valve replacement is a procedure to replace a severely damaged valve, including a mitral or aortic valve. Surgeons also use valve replacement method to treat chronic or life-threatening valve diseases. Depending on the severity of the condition, some patients require more than one valve repair or replacement procedure. 

The two types of valve replacement include; 

  • Mechanical valves made from metal, carbon, or plastic 
  • Biological valves made from human or animal tissue

 

Open-heart surgery: 

Open-heart surgery is a major type of operation. It involves cutting open the chest and performing a surgical procedure on the heart valves, arteries, and muscles. This helps repair damage or malfunction in the heart. The objectives of open-heart surgery include; 

  • Repairing damaged and abnormal parts of the cardiac or chest 
  • Repairing or replacing heart valves to facilitate the flow of blood through the heart 
  • Replacing a diseased or damaged heart (transplantation)
  • Implanting medical devices, including pacemakers, to restore normal heart rhythm 

 

Pacemakers or implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs): 

These are devices that doctors implant on the patient’s chest or abdomen to treat and manage serious arrhythmias. Arrhythmia is a disorder that occurs due to the heart’s electric system problem. It causes the heart to beat slowly, too fast, or irregularly. 

Therefore, pacemaker or ICDs helps control irregular or abnormal heart rates. It uses electric pulses to make the heart to beat normally. It also helps control a rapid heart pulse, speed up a slow heart rate, or coordinate the heart chambers. 

 

Stent placement: 

Stents refer to small, tiny expandable tubes that doctors often use after performing an angioplasty procedure. They are usually made of plastic or metal and are sometimes coated with medicine. They help stop the scar tissue from developing in the stent. 

Stent placement, therefore, involves placing the stent in the unblocked part of the artery. This is to restore blood flow and keep or prevent the artery from closing or narrowing down again. 

 

Ventricular assist devices: 

This is an implantable device that facilitates blood pumping from the heart's lower chambers to other body parts. Doctors often use ventricular assist devices to treat and manage heart failure or a weak heart. They are placed in the right or left ventricle or sometimes both heart ventricles. 

Moreover, doctors can recommend ventricular assist devices in various instances, including;

  • When waiting for the heart transplant procedure 
  • During or after a surgical procedure until the heart recovers completely 
  • If the patient is not eligible for a heart transplant 
  • If the heart can function in a normal way again 

 

Cardiovascular and Thoracic Conditions 

Cardiovascular and Thoracic Conditions 

Some heart, chest, and lung conditions are severe and cannot be addressed using other simple treatment options. In such cases, a health care specialist can perform surgical procedures to treat or manage a wide range of conditions. Some of these conditions include; 

  • Aorta transaction 
  • Aortic dissection 
  • Atrial fibrillation 
  • Benign and malignant conditions of the esophagus 
  • Congestive heart failure 
  • Coronary artery disease or artery blockage 
  • Heart attack 
  • Left ventricular aneurysm 
  • Lung cancer 
  • Mediastinal tumors 
  • Thoracic aortic aneurysm 
  • Tracheal stenosis 
  • Tracheobronchial cancer 
  • Valvular insufficiency 
  • Valvular stenosis or narrowed and blocked valves 

 

Risks of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery 

Depending on the type of surgery, several risks and complications might arise during or after the procedure. They include;

  • Severe bleeding 
  • Negative reaction to anesthesia 
  • Infection in the surgical area 
  • Heart attack 
  • Seizures, stroke, or permanent brain damages 
  • Formation of blood clots 
  • Accumulation of plaque in the arteries 
  • Acute to chronic injury on the nerves, trachea, or esophagus; this can result in swallowing disorders or hoarseness. 
  • Collapsed lung 
  • Irregular heartbeats 

 

Conclusion 

Cardiovascular and thoracic surgery is a surgical procedure that specialists often perform to treat and manage conditions of the heart, blood vessels, and thoracic organs. Apart from addressing the conditions, this procedure also aims at restoring the functions of the impaired organs and the patient’s health. 

CloudHospital specializes in diagnosing and surgically treating various conditions of the heart, lungs, or chest. It has access to different professional surgeons trained to address even the rarest and most complex conditions. They also utilize state-of-the-art equipment to ensure that you receive the best treatment.