Cardiovascular Surgery

The services provided in the "Cardiovascular Surgery" department in our hospital are given below.

Bypass Surgery (Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery)

Heart Valve Surgery

Arterial Diseases

Vein Diseases (varicose)

Insertion and removal of indwelling hemodialysis catheter

Repair of arteriovenous fistula aneurysms

Aortic Surgery (open and closed methods)

Carotid artery surgery and balloon angioplasty

 

 

Today, we encounter cardiovascular diseases in two ways: congenital and acquired. Congenital ones are primarily related to the genetic factors of the mother and father. The most important part of genetic factors includes the harmful effects of the mother during pregnancy. At the beginning of these harmful effects are using uncontrolled drugs, taking x-rays and having some febrile diseases. The form of subsequent acquisition is the accumulation of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. These risk factors affect the person throughout his life, starting from the mother's womb, and increase the workload of the heart. It also hardens in the coronary arteries. As a result of this hardening, the structure of the coronary vessels deteriorates and occlusions begin in the vessels. If the workload continues to increase in a heart with coronary insufficiency, the result is a heart attack.

 

 

What is Cardiovascular Diseases?

Organs need nutrients and oxygen in order to maintain their vitality and perform their duties. These are delivered to our organs by blood. The blood is carried to the organs via arteries (arteries). Our heart does the work of pumping blood into the arteries. Like every organ, the heart also needs nourishment. The vessels that feed the heart itself are called "coronary arteries" (coronary arteries). Diseases that may occur in the coronary vessels are of vital importance as they will directly affect the work and efficiency of the heart.

Atherosclerosis:

The most common and most important disease of the coronary vessels is coronary atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). In this disease, a number of substances, mainly cholesterol, accumulate in the coronary vessels, and stenosis and blockages occur in these places. The structures we call plaque, which are formed as a result of atherosclerosis in the vessel, can grow over time and narrow the vessel space. Since the narrowing of the vein will reduce the amount of blood flowing through it, problems develop due to the malnutrition of the heart.

The resulting picture is called coronary artery disease or coronary heart disease. As a result, the nutrition of the heart is disrupted, and disturbances occur in the rhythmic work and contraction of the heart in proportion to the severity of the disease. Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death and loss of labor in adults in our country, as it is all over the world.

Risk Factors in Cardiovascular Diseases ?

The most important step in the fight against coronary artery disease is to prevent the disease. The disease occurs quickly in the presence of a number of risk factors and progresses rapidly. A high level of good cholesterol (more than 60 mg/dl) reduces the risk of disease.

What are the risk factors?

Age: Men over 45 years old, women over 55 years old or premature menopause

Gender: More common in males

Family history: Cardiovascular disease, heart attack (infarction) or sudden death in first-degree (mother, father, sibling) male relatives before 55 years of age and in first-degree female relatives before 65 years of age

be a smoker

Hypertension (140/90 mmHg or more or being treated for hypertension)

Good cholesterol (HDL cholesterol) less than 40 mg/dl

Total cholesterol greater than 200 mg/dl (bad cholesterol LDL-cholesterol greater than 130 mg/dl).

Inactivity: You should take time to exercise at least 3 days a week and at least 30 minutes a day (brisk walking, swimming, cycling, dancing, gardening, etc.).

Diabetes mellitus (diabetes mellitus)

Weight: The most valuable criteria in this regard are body mass index and waist circumference. Body mass index is obtained by dividing weight in kg by the square of height in meters (BMI: kg/m2). Having a body mass index over 25 or a waist circumference of 102 cm in men and 88 cm in women not only increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, but also increases the risk of diabetes, high fat and high blood pressure.

Stress: exposure to constant stress for a long time facilitates the development of the disease.

Depression: Especially in recent years, depression has started to be accepted as a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.

 

Treatment of cardiovascular diseases ...

If significant stenosis and / or occlusion of the coronary arteries is observed, balloon angioplasty can be performed in the same session or later if necessary. During balloon angioplasty, a specially made balloon is briefly inflated in the narrow area of ​​the vessel and the stenosis is widened. The balloon can be applied to more than one stenosis in the same vein or to a stenosis in more than one vein in the same session or in different sessions. If necessary, in addition to the balloon, a stent (cage) is placed in this area with the help of a balloon.

In the balloon procedure, a catheter with an inflatable balloon at the tip is placed in the stenosis area, after the stenosis has been inserted, the balloon is inflated and the stenosis is opened.

In cases that are unsuitable for balloon angioplasty, bypass surgery or drug therapy may be recommended.

In bypass surgery, a vessel that acts as a bridge is placed in the vessel between before and after the stenosis. This inserted vein can be the patient's own leg vein or an artery taken from the chest. So with the help of this bridge, the blood can get out of the narrow or blocked area.

 

WHAT IS BYPASS? QUESTION ANSWER

Question 1: What is coronary by-pass surgery?
Answer: Traditional coronary bypass surgery is a surgical procedure to open blockages in the heart vessels (coronary arteries). This procedure is performed in emergency or elective situations when the heart muscle is not getting enough blood.

Question 2: What is coronary artery disease and for whom is coronary artery surgery recommended?
Answer: Coronary artery disease is a condition in which the heart vessels become blocked by plaque. Surgical treatment is recommended for patients who are at risk of a heart attack or for whom other treatment methods have failed.

Question 3: How is coronary bypass surgery performed?
Answer: During surgery, a new pathway is created by replacing the blocked vessel with another vessel (usually an artery from the chest wall) or a vessel from another part of the body. This provides a new bridging pathway that restores blood flow to the damaged heart muscle.

Question 4: What is the recovery process after surgical treatment?
Answer: The recovery process depends on the patient's health condition and the experience of the clinic. Usually, patients stay in the hospital for 5-7 days after surgery and then continue the recovery process at home. Physical therapy and medications support this process.

Question 5: What are the risks of coronary bypass surgery?
Answer: Like any surgical procedure, coronary bypass surgery has risks. These risks include infection, bleeding, anesthesia complications and rarely heart attack.

Question 6: Are there alternative treatment methods?
Answer: Yes, non-invasive (non-surgical) methods such as medication, balloon angioplasty and stenting can be used to treat coronary artery disease.

Question 7: What are the lifestyle changes after coronary bypass surgery?
Answer: Patients should adopt a healthy lifestyle, exercise regularly, eat a healthy diet and not smoke. Medications and regular medical follow-up are also important.

Question 8: How soon can the patient return to normal life after this surgery?
Answer: Recovery time varies from person to person, but many patients can return to daily activities within a few weeks. Full recovery may take longer.

Question 1: What is minimally invasive coronary bypass surgery and how does it differ from conventional bypass surgery?
Answer: Minimally invasive coronary bypass surgery is a less invasive version of traditional bypass surgery. It is a relatively closed surgery with a small incision. While traditional surgery usually requires opening the sternum, minimally invasive surgery avoids this incision.

Question 2: What are the advantages of minimally invasive bypass surgery?
Answer: Minimally invasive surgery has the advantages of less pain, faster recovery and a smaller scar. It also has a shorter hospital stay.

Question 3: Who are suitable candidates for minimally invasive coronary bypass surgery?
Answer: Generally, patients with two-vessel disease or fewer complications are suitable candidates for minimally invasive bypass surgery. However, each patient is different, so the surgeon's assessment is important.

Question 4: What is the recovery period after minimally invasive bypass surgery?
Answer: The recovery process can vary from person to person, but it is usually faster. The patient can return home within a few days after surgery and can return to normal activities more quickly.

Question 5: What are the risks of minimally invasive coronary bypass surgery?
Answer: As with any surgical procedure, minimally invasive bypass surgery has risks. The most common risks may include infection, bleeding and blockage between vessels.

 

As the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of the private Akdeniz Hospital, we wish you a healthy day.