Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Cardiac Surgery

Cardiac surgery, also called heart surgery, involves surgical operations made on the heart under to correct life-threatening conditions. The surgery can be either open-heart surgery or minimally invasive surgery subject on the condition to be corrected. The purpose of cardiac surgery is to progress the quality of life of the patient and to extend the patient's lifespan. Cardiac surgery includes substantial risk and is only done when the benefits outweigh the risk. Risks are highest for infants under one year of age and adults over age 60. Risk increases with age and when the individual has other health problems such as diabetes, chronic kidney failure, chronic lung disease, pulmonary edema, congestive heart failure, electrolyte imbalances, alcoholism, and prior history of heart attack or stroke. Even though few circumstances categorically rule out a cardiac process, the physician must judge the risks and benefits on an individual basis.