OPEN HEART SURGERY Meaning and
Definition
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Open heart surgery is a complex medical procedure that involves accessing and operating on the heart through a large incision made in the chest. This surgical procedure is typically performed by a team of specialized healthcare professionals, including cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses, in a specialized operating room equipped with advanced monitoring and surgical instruments.
During open heart surgery, the patient is placed under general anesthesia to induce a state of unconsciousness and prevent pain. The surgeon makes an incision between the ribs to expose the chest cavity, and a heart-lung bypass machine is connected to the patient's arteries and veins. This machine temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs by oxygenating the blood and pumping it throughout the body.
The surgeon then stops the patient's heart using a cardioplegia solution, which is a cold potassium-enriched liquid that preserves the heart tissue during the procedure. The diseased or damaged portion of the heart is repaired or replaced using various techniques such as bypass grafting, valve repair or replacement, or repair of congenital defects.
Open heart surgery may be used to treat various heart conditions, including coronary artery disease, heart valve disorders, congenital heart defects, and heart failure. It is considered a major surgical intervention due to the invasiveness of the procedure and the potential risks associated with it. However, it has proven to be an effective treatment option for many cardiac diseases, improving patients' quality of life and increasing their chances of survival.
