Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, a cardiac surgeon will help manage your initial recovery following surgery, especially during your hospital stay. They will monitor your recovery, handle any necessary post-operative care, and make sure the surgical site is healing properly.

Asking questions that will help you understand your condition, your treatment options, and the surgical process is crucial when you consult with a cardiac surgeon. Here’s what you should ask your cardiac surgeon: What specific cardiac condition do I have, and is surgery necessary to treat it? Which surgical treatment options are available to me, and what are the possible advantages and disadvantages of each? What is your success rate for this kind of surgery, and how many times have you performed it? What is the expected recovery process and what kind of help am I likely to need at this time? What lifestyle modification might be necessary following surgery, and what kind of long-term follow-up care might be needed?

Prior to your first appointment with a cardiac surgeon, it is crucial that you gather any relevant medical records. Imaging studies, cardiac test results, and reports from your cardiologist or referring physician should all be included in these records. A list of your current medications, a history of your health, and any other relevant medical records are things you should always have with you. Discuss your concerns, symptoms, and any questions you may have about your health and potential surgical treatments with a cardiac surgeon. This will help the cardiac surgeon understand your condition completely and provide the best care for you.  

You may want to consider consulting a cardiac surgeon if you have been diagnosed with a cardiac condition that may need surgery. This can include conditions such as coronary artery disease, aortic aneurysms, congenital heart defects, and problems with the heart valves. In addition, your cardiologist may refer you to a cardiac surgeon for a further evaluation and to go over your surgical options if surgery has been recommended as part of your treatment plan.  

Cardiac surgeons treat a variety of heart conditions that require surgery. These can include aortic aneurysms, congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, disorders of the heart valves (such as aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation, or prolapse of the mitral valve), and other complex conditions that need to be surgically corrected.

A cardiac surgeon has a great deal of responsibility, particularly when surgery is necessary. Cardiac surgeons are responsible for assessing the patient's condition, deciding if surgery is required, and performing the procedure expertly and precisely. They collaborate closely with cardiologists, oversee the patient's speedy recuperation, and provide long-term care advice  

A physician who specializes in heart and blood vessel surgery is known as a cardiac surgeon. Aster RV Bangalore's cardiac surgeons are skilled in performing procedures such as coronary artery bypass grafting, heart valve replacement or repair, and procedures to correct congenital heart defects. Additionally, may carry out procedures to implant medical devices like pacemakers or defibrillators.

Based on the variation in the ECG during a heart attack, doctors recognize two types of heart attacks. ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) Non-ST-elevation Myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). STEMI and NSTEMI differ not only in the variation in the ECG but also in their severity. In general, STEMI is more likely to be immediately fatal or disabling than NSTEMI. Consequently, STEMI requires more urgent treatment than NSTEMI in most instances. However, this is just a thumb rule: Some NSTEMIs can be equally ominous and may require emergency treatment just like STEMI.

First, seek help. Make any person in proximity aware of your situation. The most important step to ensure a safe outcome in a heart attack is to see that you reach a hospital with appropriate facilities as soon as possible. It is a good practice to be aware of the hospitals around you and the facilities they provide. When someone has chest pain or other symptoms suggestive of a heart attack, the immediate first aid should be to take 350 mg of the soluble form of Aspirin (common trade names Disprin or Aspisol in India). Ideally, the tablet should be chewed because the medicine is absorbed from the mucosal membrane of the oral cavity and starts to act immediately. If the patient cannot chew the tablet for some reason, the tablet can be dispersed in a small quantity of water and taken orally. If I see someone who is having a heart attack, what can I do to ensure he survives till help arrives? Call the nearest hospital with cardiac facilities as soon as you recognise that someone around you might be having an ongoing attack. Shift the person to a comfortable position and reassure them. If possible, give them an Aspirin tablet to chew. While waiting for help to arrive, monitor their breathing and pulse. If they lose consciousness, initiate Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Various risk factors increase the chances of a person having a heart attack. Smoking, High Blood pressure, Diabetes. physical inactivity, high cholesterol levels, obesity, and poor diet are important risk factors. These can be potentially controlled to reduce heart attack risk. Therefore, these are termed Modifiable Risk factors. Older age, male sex, family history, Post-menopausal state in women are factors that can increase heart attack risk but cannot be altered. These are called non-modifiable risk factors. South Asians appear to have a very high risk of having heart attacks at a younger age, compared to Caucasians and Asians such as Japanese.