Cardiac Surgeon

Conditions Treated

• •Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) Requiring Bypass — Severe blockages in heart arteries that cannot be treated with stents alone. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) creates new routes for blood flow.
• •Heart Valve Disease — Damaged or diseased heart valves — mitral, aortic, tricuspid — that need surgical repair or replacement.
• •Congenital Heart Defects — Structural heart problems present from birth — ASD, VSD, Tetralogy of Fallot, transposition of great arteries.
• •Aortic Aneurysm — Abnormal bulging of the aorta (body's largest artery) that can rupture fatally if untreated.
• •Heart Failure Requiring Surgical Intervention — End-stage heart failure where medications alone cannot sustain adequate heart function.

Health Tips

• •Follow cardiac rehabilitation diligently
• •Take all prescribed medications without skipping
• •Attend all follow-up appointments
• •Quit smoking permanently after heart surgery
• •Manage stress and get adequate sleep during recovery

How to Prepare for Your Visit

• •Complete all pre-operative tests — echocardiography, coronary angiography, blood tests, lung function tests
• •Stop smoking at least 2 weeks before surgery — this significantly reduces lung complications
• •Inform the surgeon about ALL medications including blood thinners, which may need to be stopped
• •Arrange for 4-6 weeks of home support post-surgery — you will need help with daily activities
• •Family should be present during surgery for updates and consent decisions if needed
• •Expect ICU stay for 1-3 days post-surgery with monitoring, tubes, and ventilator
• •Early mobilisation (sitting up, gentle walking) usually starts within 24-48 hours
• •Ask about cardiac rehabilitation — structured recovery programs improve outcomes
• •Attend cardiac rehabilitation — supervised exercise program is proven to improve long-term survival
• •Take all prescribed medications including blood thinners, statins, and BP medications without skipping
• •Report any wound redness, fever, or chest pain immediately — these may indicate infection or complications
• •Resume driving only after surgeon's clearance — usually 4-6 weeks post-surgery

Questions to Ask Your Doctor

• •Is surgery the only option, or can this be treated with stents or medication?
• •What type of surgery do you recommend and why?
• •What is the success rate and risk for someone like me?
• •How many of these surgeries do you perform annually?
• •How long is the recovery period?
• •Will I need lifelong blood thinners after valve surgery?

When to See a Specialist

A Cardiac Surgeon performs heart operations including bypass surgery, valve repair/replacement, and congenital heart defect corrections.

• •Coronary artery disease needing bypass surgery
• •Heart valve disease requiring repair or replacement
• •Congenital heart defect in children or adults
• •Aortic aneurysm needing surgical repair
• •Heart failure — transplant evaluation

You are typically referred by a cardiologist after diagnostic tests show a condition requiring surgery.