Open-Heart Surgery
Open-heart surgery is a necessary treatment for many complex heart issues. The experts at Reid Health Heart & Vascular Center offer the latest and most advanced surgical solutions.
Expert open-heart surgery
Open-heart surgery has revolutionized the treatment of heart disease. This intricate surgery allows skilled surgeons to repair damaged heart valves, bypass blocked arteries, treat congenital heart defects, and address other serious conditions. With advancements in surgical techniques and technology, open-heart surgery has become safer and more effective than ever before
Why choose Reid Health
Your heart is in the right place
The cardiothoracic surgeons at Reid Health Heart & Vascular Center provide the highest level of expertise and compassion to people needing open-heart surgery. They have delivered excellent outcomes to people with complex needs throughout East Central Indiana and West Central Ohio.
At Reid Health, we believe no one should have to travel outside of our community to receive outstanding heart care. Our cardiothoracic surgery team is highly trained and experienced in the latest surgical techniques, and we have invested in advanced technologies and comprehensive pre- and postsurgical programs, so you receive personalized care for your condition before, during, and long after your procedure.
Advanced open-heart surgery at Reid
To treat serious heart conditions, your surgeon might recommend one of these open-heart surgery options:
- Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG): During bypass surgery, a healthy artery gets connected to a blocked artery. This allows blood to go around the blockage, restoring blood flow to your heart.
- Maze procedure: Your surgeon makes tiny cuts in your heart muscle to create a maze of scar tissue that disrupts the electrical activity that causes arrhythmias, such as atrial fibrillation.
- Valve repair or replacement: Damaged or diseased heart valves might be repaired with clips, plugs, or supportive rings. During a valve replacement surgery, the valve is replaced with an artificial heart valve, an animal valve, or a valve from a human donor.
Who needs open-heart surgery?
More than 2 million people across the globe have open-heart surgery every year, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. These types of surgeries help with many heart problems, including:
Atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the most common form of heart arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat. AFib causes chest pain, shortness of breath, and other symptoms.
Without treatment, AFib can cause strokes, which can be debilitating. Open-heart surgery to disrupt the electrical signals that cause AFib can help reduce your symptoms and your risk of stroke.
Congenital heart defects
Congenital heart defects are conditions you have when you’re born. There are many types that can affect the heart’s structure and function. Heart surgeons often use open-heart surgery to fix congenital heart issues.
Congestive heart failure
Congestive heart failure develops when your heart doesn’t get enough blood to pump or isn’t strong enough to pump it. When the disease gets very advanced, your heart surgeon might recommend open-heart bypass surgery, a heart valve replacement, or another open-heart procedure to help your heart work as well as possible.
Coronary artery disease
Often caused by a buildup of plaque in your arteries, coronary artery disease can cause a heart attack and other complications if it is not treated. Open-heart coronary artery bypass surgery can help reroute blood around a blocked artery.
Heart valve disease
Your heart has four valves, and any of them can become damaged or diseased. A damaged heart valve might leak (called regurgitation) or get too narrow (called stenosis). Heart valve diseases can lead to complications, including stroke and heart failure.
Some forms of heart valve disease benefit from procedures that require only a small incision in the groin, but open-heart surgery might be the solution you need depending on the type of valve disease you have and how serious it is.
Open-heart surgery: Support before, during, and after
Before open-heart surgery, you’ll need to have imaging, blood work, and other tests. You’ll also work with our dedicated perioperative clinic team to optimize your health before surgery to help recovery go more smoothly.
As you prepare, be sure to ask questions. Learn all you can about the procedure and your recovery. Have a friend or family member join you during your preoperative appointments and take notes so you remember everything you learn.
Your Reid heart surgeon and care team will guide you through every step of the process and give you detailed instructions to follow in the weeks and days leading up to surgery.
Open-heart surgery might require a stay in the intensive care unit (ICU). Your team will watch you to ensure you don’t experience complications, such as blood clots.
Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation
After surgery, you’ll begin a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program as soon as it’s safe. This supervised program helps you regain strength and prevent future heart problems.
Full recovery depends on the surgery you undergo and other factors. It can take up to 12 weeks and possibly longer for some people.