4 Common Types of Heart Surgery and How They Work
Types of heart surgery include valve repair or replacement, bypass (CABG), ablation and angioplasty (PCI). See what each procedure treats and how it works.
Bypass surgery is one procedure for treating heart disease. It is often chosen because it has fewer side effects and does not leave a very wide scar. But there are several other heart disease procedures that are often performed and worth knowing about. Here is an overview.
4 Common Types of Heart Surgery
- Heart Valve Surgery
This type of surgery repairs or even replaces a damaged heart valve. A damaged valve makes the blood flowing into the heart abnormal, so the risk of heart disease is higher if it is not treated promptly.
Based on the doctor's analysis, if the valve can still be used, it is simply repaired, but if it is too damaged, it is replaced. A replacement usually uses either a mechanical heart valve or a donor heart valve.
- Heart Bypass Surgery
Heart bypass surgery, often called CABG (coronary artery bypass graft), is a procedure for treating heart disease by grafting blood vessels. A blood vessel with a blockage is replaced with a graft from a vessel that is still healthy.
This procedure is usually done for patients with coronary heart disease. The graft takes over the function of the previous vessel, so the effects of heart disease, up to the risk of stroke, can be reduced because blood supply returns to normal.
- Cardiac Ablation
The next heart surgery procedure is ablation. It treats arrhythmia, or a heart rhythm disorder. Ablation is done by making an incision in the patient's thigh or neck and then inserting a catheter into the blood vessel. At the tip of the catheter is an electrode that reduces the arrhythmia.
- Coronary Angioplasty
Coronary angioplasty, or PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention), is a heart procedure that helps when a blood vessel is blocked. The narrowing or blockage is treated by inflating and widening the vessel with a special balloon.
This heart surgery is also often combined with placing a small wire tube, or stent. The stent keeps the vessel open and props it up so it does not narrow again quickly. Although the technique is quite similar to bypass surgery, this type of surgery is not recommended for patients with a weak heart.
Prevention is better than cure, and that applies to heart disease too. Heart disease, which affects many people, can be prevented by eating a healthy diet and living a healthy lifestyle. Consulting a doctor about your heart condition early can also be a good way to prevent it.
