Cardiovascular Surgery

The heart, being a vital organ, must be protected and carefully monitored. Playing a critical role in the circulatory system, the heart can be significantly affected even by minor damage. This organ, which is crucial for human health and lifespan, is also responsible for removing metabolic waste such as carbon dioxide from body tissues.

Cardiovascular surgery is the surgical treatment of diseases affecting the heart and blood vessel system that supply vital organs. It is a branch of medicine. Surgeons specialized in this field help patients regain their health through complex procedures. So, what specific problems does cardiovascular surgery address? Here are the common diseases and conditions treated:

Narrowing or blockages in the coronary arteries, which carry oxygen and nutrients to the heart, are called coronary artery diseases. This condition can lead to urgent and dangerous problems like a heart attack (myocardial infarction). It may also present as angina (chest pain) during exercise or stress.

Cardiovascular surgeons perform bypass surgery, angioplasty, or stenting in these cases. These methods restore blood flow, allowing the heart to function healthily.

Reduced Pumping Power of the Heart: Heart Failure
Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. It usually results from weakened heart muscle, a previous heart attack, or other heart diseases. Cardiovascular surgery can offer surgical options in some cases to slow the progression of heart failure or alleviate its symptoms.

The four heart valves ensure blood flows in the correct direction. Conditions such as valve stenosis (narrowing) or regurgitation (insufficiency) can disrupt the heart’s normal function. Heart valve diseases may cause symptoms like shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest pain.

Cardiovascular surgeons repair damaged valves or replace them with artificial valves. These surgeries help the heart function healthily.

Arrhythmias, caused by abnormalities in the heart’s electrical activity, lead to irregular heartbeats. Conditions like tachycardia (fast heartbeat), bradycardia (slow heartbeat), or other rhythm disorders can affect quality of life.

These conditions may sometimes pose a life-threatening risk. Cardiovascular surgeons use surgical methods to treat certain types of arrhythmias. These methods include ablation and pacemaker implantation.

Abnormalities in the heart structure present from birth are called congenital heart diseases. An atrial septal defect (ASD) is a hole between the atria, while a ventricular septal defect (VSD) is a hole between the ventricles.

These conditions can be corrected with early diagnosis and may require surgical intervention. Cardiovascular surgeons use specialized surgical techniques to repair these structural problems in infants and children.

Arrhythmias, caused by abnormalities in the heart’s electrical activity, lead to irregular heartbeats. Conditions like tachycardia (fast heartbeat), bradycardia (slow heartbeat), or other rhythm disorders can affect quality of life.

These conditions may sometimes pose a life-threatening risk. Cardiovascular surgeons use surgical methods to treat certain types of arrhythmias. These methods include ablation and pacemaker implantation.

Kalbi saran perikard adlı zarın iltihaplanması durumu olan perikardit, genellikle enfeksiyonlar veya iltihabi hastalıklarla ilişkilidir. Göğüs ağrısı en belirgin semptomudur. Çoğu durumda ilaçla tedavi edilse de, bazı komplikasyonlar (örneğin, perikardiyal efüzyon - sıvı birikimi) cerrahi müdahale gerektirebilir.

Conditions such as aneurysm (dilation) or stenosis (narrowing) in the aorta can lead to serious health problems. Aortic aneurysms carry a risk of rupture and may require emergency surgical intervention. Cardiovascular surgeons apply various surgical techniques to repair aortic diseases.

Arteriosclerosis (Atherosclerosis) causes the narrowing and hardening of blood vessels. This condition can impair blood flow to the heart, brain, and other vital organs, leading to serious problems such as heart attack, stroke, and vascular diseases. Cardiovascular surgery offers various methods to open or bypass blocked arteries.

Hypertension (high blood pressure) significantly increases the risk of heart and vascular diseases over the long term. There is no direct surgical treatment for hypertension itself; however, certain causes, such as narrowing of the renal arteries, can be corrected surgically.

Renal vascular diseases can lead to uncontrolled hypertension (renal hypertension) and various cardiovascular problems. Cardiovascular surgeons may use surgical or endovascular methods to treat certain renal vascular conditions.

Cardiovascular surgery procedures aim to treat diseases of the heart and circulatory system. There are many different methods in this field. These procedures include:

• Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)

• Heart Valve Surgery

• Aortic Repair

• Peripheral Vascular Surgery

• Congenital Heart Disease Surgery

• Heart Transplantation

• Endovascular Techniques

• Arrhythmia Ablation

• Pacemaker Implantation

Coronary bypass is a surgical treatment performed when the coronary arteries supplying the heart become narrowed or blocked. This procedure restores blood flow to the affected artery using grafts taken from another blood vessel.

The surgeon harvests a healthy vessel from the leg, arm, or chest and attaches it to bypass the blocked coronary artery. This creates a new pathway, ensuring adequate blood flow and meeting the oxygen needs of the heart muscle.

Minimally invasive surgery is a technique developed as an alternative to traditional open surgery in the field of cardiovascular surgery. This method involves performing surgical procedures through small incisions or natural openings without making large cuts in the body.

Hemodialysis access surgery is a procedure performed to provide vascular access for patients with kidney failure undergoing hemodialysis treatment. This surgical intervention enables access to large blood vessels, allowing the patient’s blood to be removed, cleaned by dialysis machines, and returned to the body. 

Heart valve surgery involves surgical interventions performed for diseases and dysfunctions of the heart valves. The heart valves regulate blood flow, ensuring the heart functions properly. Valve insufficiency or stenosis can negatively impact heart health.

Aortic aneurysms are dilations that occur within the aorta and often lead to serious health problems.

Aortic dissection occurs when the inner layer of the aorta tears, allowing blood to flow between the layers of the vessel wall, requiring emergency intervention. Both aortic aneurysms and aortic dissection are conditions that necessitate surgical treatment in the field of cardiovascular surgery.

Heart rhythm disorders are a significant concern. These disorders cause irregular heartbeats and can lead to serious complications.

Varicose vein treatments encompass various methods aimed at treating varicose veins, which are caused by the dilation and deformation of veins in the legs. Varicose veins often cause pain, swelling, and cosmetic concerns in the legs. Modern cardiovascular surgery offers both surgical and non-surgical options for treating this condition.

Sclerotherapy is a method where a special solution is injected into the varicose veins to close them. Another treatment option is laser therapy,

Heart tumor treatments vary depending on the type and location of the tumor in the heart. Heart tumors can be either benign or malignant. Treatment options are determined based on the patient’s condition.

Peripheral invasive procedures are modern and effective methods used to treat peripheral vascular diseases. These procedures are performed when there is narrowing or blockage of blood vessels in various parts of the body, such as the legs or arms.

Open Heart Surgery
Heart surgery performed by making a longitudinal incision along the patient’s sternum. The incision typically measures between 20 to 25 cm. This is one of the oldest surgical techniques and involves a large, coordinated team allowing various complex procedures to be safely performed.

Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery
Developed to reduce the challenges of opening the chest, this technique involves smaller incisions instead of the traditional 20–25 cm sternotomy. It offers a more comfortable experience for both patients and doctors and is applied using minimally invasive techniques in suitable patients.

Carotid (Neck Artery) Surgeries
Carotid surgeries are commonly performed in patients with coronary artery disease to treat narrowing of the carotid arteries. For patients over 40 years old requiring coronary bypass surgery, carotid artery evaluation is essential. Color Doppler ultrasonography is a crucial diagnostic tool for this assessment.