My experience with open heart surgery
My experience with open heart surgery began when I felt recurring pains in my chest and shortness of breath. After a series of medical tests, including an ECG and X-rays, the doctor confirmed to me that I had blocked coronary arteries and that I needed open-heart surgery to overcome this problem.
This diagnosis was a shock to me and my family, but the doctor explained to me the details of the operation and the importance of performing it to improve my health condition.
On the day of the operation, I was taken to the operating room early in the morning. The medical teams were on standby, and the atmosphere in the operating room was focused and serious. I was fully anesthetized, and I did not feel anything during the operation, which took several hours. The surgeon opened my chest and accessed the heart to make the necessary adjustments to the coronary arteries.
After the operation ended, I was transferred to the intensive care unit to closely monitor my health condition. This period was very critical, as the medical team was monitoring my heart and breathing functions and giving me the necessary medications to prevent any complications. This stage lasted for two days, during which I felt some pain and discomfort, but medical and psychological support played a major role in alleviating this pain.
After discharge from the intensive care unit, the gradual recovery phase began. I was transferred to a regular hospital room where I gradually began to regain my strength. I was undergoing physical therapy sessions to help me regain movement and activity. This stage was full of challenges, but my commitment to doctors’ instructions and the support of my family played a major role in overcoming it.
Several weeks after the operation, I began to feel a significant improvement in my health. I was able to walk longer distances without feeling tired, and my ability to carry out daily activities normally returned. This period marked a new beginning in my life, as I felt that I had overcome a difficult stage and had become stronger and healthier.
My experience with open heart surgery was a challenging experience, but it was also a learning experience and a turning point in my life. Thanks to medical and psychological support, I was able to successfully overcome this stage and became more aware of the importance of taking care of my health.
When do you need to have open heart surgery?
In the presence of certain heart diseases, open-heart surgery may become necessary. The most prominent of these diseases that require surgical intervention are:
1. Congenital heart disorders, such as a hole between the atria, which is a type of congenital heart defect.
2. Disturbances in the heart rhythm, such as atrial fibrillation, which disrupts the regularity of normal beats.
3. An aneurysm in the thoracic part of the aorta, which is known as an aortic aneurysm.
4. Diseases that affect heart valves, hindering their basic function in regulating blood flow.
5. Coronary artery disease, which affects the arteries supplying the heart muscle.
6. The need to remove benign heart tumors that may lead to health complications.
These cases reflect the importance of careful evaluation and medical follow-up to maintain heart health.
Types of open heart surgery
The term open-heart surgery refers to a variety of surgical procedures performed on the heart to treat various heart problems.
These surgeries include heart valve replacement, repair of congenital heart defects, heart transplantation, and coronary artery bypass operations.
Each of these procedures requires opening the chest to directly access and treat the heart.
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)
Coronary bypass surgery is one of the main methods used in medicine to treat coronary artery diseases. In these cases, patients face narrowing or blockage that impedes the flow of oxygen to the heart, resulting in poor function.
Repair or replace a heart valve
When the artificial heart-lung machine begins to completely take over the circulation, the doctor temporarily stops the heart from working.
After that, the defect in the heart valve is treated, either by repairing it or replacing it with a new one. This new valve may be artificial or extracted from biological sources.
Heart arrhythmia repair surgery:
This method is used to treat atrial fibrillation, which is one of the most common heart rhythm disorders.
It creates a network of scar tissue inside the heart that acts as a barrier that prevents abnormal electrical signals from arriving, while at the same time allowing healthy heart rhythm signals to be transmitted.
Installation of a ventricular assist device (VAD)
It is known as a mechanical system that enhances the functions of the heart, as it plays a vital role in transporting blood from the ventricles to various parts of the body. This device is used as a treatment method for weak heart problems.
Fix the problem of aneurysm
If there is enlargement or swelling of the artery or heart wall, doctors perform surgery in which a patch or graft is used to replace and strengthen the damaged part, with the aim of restoring the normal function of the artery or heart muscle.
Heart transplant
In a heart transplant, the patient's defective heart is removed and replaced with a new heart that comes from a person who has recently died and whose family has agreed to donate it. This step aims to give the patient a new opportunity to live a normal life with an efficiently working heart.
There is also a new technique that aims to reduce the need to completely open the chest during surgeries, and it is known as minimally invasive heart surgery. This method allows patients to recover and resume their daily activities more quickly compared to traditional methods of heart surgery.
How are open heart surgeries performed?
Coronary bypass surgery lasts between three to six hours, and includes the following steps:
First, the patient receives general anesthesia to ensure that he does not feel pain during the operation, and then the surgeon makes an incision between 8 and 10 inches long in the chest area to reach the heart.
Secondly, after detecting anxiety, the patient is connected to a heart-lung bypass machine, which takes over the functions of these two organs during the operation so that the heart can regain its normal activity after surgery.
Third, the surgeon uses another vein or artery to create an alternate path around the blockage in the coronary artery. After that, the opened chest bones are closed and repaired.
Fourth, in some cases, the surgeon may install pacemakers or implantable cardioverter defibrillators during surgery to help the heart work better after the procedure.
This procedure is an important intervention to improve blood flow to the heart and increase its efficiency.
Risks of open heart surgery
Every heart surgical procedure carries a set of risks, the severity of which may vary based on the patient's health condition. Individuals with complex heart problems may be at greater risk of complications during and after surgery. Among the risks associated with heart surgery are:
– The possibility of infection occurring in the chest wound area, and this is especially common in patients who suffer from obesity or diabetes, or who have previously undergone coronary artery bypass surgery.
– Risks related to general anesthesia.
- The patient may be exposed to heart rhythm disturbances.
– The patient may experience problems with lung or kidney function after surgery.
- Feeling pain in the chest area.
– Risk of blood clots.
– Losing amounts of blood during the operation.
– The patient may experience breathing difficulties after surgery.
– Risk of pneumonia.
Tips after open heart surgery
After undergoing open heart surgery, the biggest challenge was recovery during the first days following the procedure. Here I will share the self-care steps I followed as directed by my doctors to ensure optimal recovery.
First, I participated in a cardiac rehabilitation program. This program includes physical exercises designed to strengthen the heart, in addition to sessions to reduce psychological stress. The program lasts for 12 weeks, with three sessions per week, each session lasting an hour.
Secondly, after the operation, especially if coronary artery bypass surgery was performed, swelling of the leg may occur. In this case it is necessary to use compression stockings and keep the leg elevated. The swelling usually goes away within six to eight weeks.
Thirdly, you should avoid lifting anything weighing more than 4.5 kilograms, in order to prevent pressure on the chest bones, which need about six weeks to heal completely.
Fourth, there are important instructions regarding not driving cars for four weeks after surgery, to avoid physical effort that may affect the chest area.
Fifth, it is necessary to completely stop smoking and take the medications strictly prescribed by the doctor. In addition, it is important to maintain a healthy weight by following a balanced diet and actively participating in appropriate sporting activities.
Finally, periodic medical reviews must be adhered to for examination, to ensure the safety of the treatment process, and to monitor the health condition.
These simple steps, even though they seem big, really enabled me to get through the post-surgery stage safely and securely.
What is the success rate of open heart surgery in Egypt?
Dr. Murtaja Najm, a specialist in cardiac surgery at the National Heart Center, stated that the success rates of open-heart surgeries for adults range from 90 to 96 percent.
He added that these percentages vary depending on the type of surgery. The success rate of heart valve surgeries is 97 percent, while the success rate of coronary artery surgery is about 95 percent.
