Heart diseases are the main factor causing sudden deaths today. Although studies on the protection of heart health and new treatment methods developed with the possibilities of current technology for heart diseases reduce the death rates due to heart diseases, methods to protect public health in the field of heart are still insufficient.
Heart health is of great importance for pumping blood and working regularly. However, for some reasons, some problems may occur with the heart and cardiovascular vessels. Problems such as hardening, narrowing and occlusion of the heart vessels or heart valve problems and heart failure are the most common heart diseases today.
In addition to preventive methods, treatment of heart diseases is possible with medication or surgical methods. Heart surgery is the most important application among these methods. Nowadays, heart surgery can be performed with many different methods.
What is Armpit Heart Surgery?
Open heart surgery is performed through an incision of approximately 6-7 cm in the armpit area. In this technique, no bone is cut, the surgery is performed by entering between the ribs. The standard technique in open heart surgery is to perform this surgery by cutting the anterior chest wall (Sternum bone: faith board).
To which patients is armpit heart surgery applied?
This surgical technique can be applied to all patients, male and female, old and young. . Most importantly, this technique can be especially preferred when a second surgery is required in patients who have previously undergone normal heart surgery. The armpit technique can be used for wound healing, especially in overweight patients with diabetes.
How is armpit heart surgery performed?
The incision is made in the armpit area, not under the chest, and the heart is reached by entering between the ribs. The incision is almost 6-7 cm. It is applied by making a 5-6 cm incision from the right armpit to the area where the breast ends, entering between the ribs. No bone cutting is performed. From now on, the surgery process continues depending on the type of surgery to be performed.
What is the post-operative process like? Patients are taken to intensive care after the surgery and are removed from the respirator after a short time. Patients can go to their rooms on the ward on the first day after surgery. During this period, patients reach a level where they can walk easily and do their daily tasks without assistance. Patients are discharged on the 5th day on average after the surgery and are called for a check-up 1 week later.
Before and After Heart Surgery
If the patient smokes before heart surgery, he must definitely give up this habit. The evaluations of previous tests and examinations for heart health must be reported to the doctor, and the complete list of medications used must be shown to the doctor. Before heart surgery, they must have a dental examination to avoid any risk of infection. At the same time, if any vaccination has been made, the doctor must be informed about this.
Since you must go to the surgery on an empty stomach, you should not eat anything for 8 hours before the surgery. Contact with other patients should be avoided in the hospital, hands should be washed frequently and maximum attention should be paid to sterilization.
After heart surgery, the doctor's prescription and recommendations must be followed completely. At the same time, the patient must be well protected against infection. A stress-free lifestyle should be adopted and consuming foods that are beneficial for heart health.
Open Heart Surgery, Risks and Aftermath
Open heart surgery is a very serious operation. Therefore, there are some risks. Due to the chest wound, the patient is at risk of developing infection. Diabetics and overweight patients need to be especially careful. The risk of heart attack or spasm are also risks that may occur after open heart surgery. Problems such as shortness of breath, blood loss, headache and dizziness, high fever and associated memory loss may occur.
In order to avoid these risks, experienced doctors should be consulted and the doctor's recommendations should be followed completely. At the same time, patient visits after surgery should be considered brief.
Armpit Heart Surgery Frequently Asked Questions
Armpit heart surgery allows the heart valve to be repaired and replaced without the need to make an incision anywhere else in the body. It is a procedure accepted in national and international congresses; It has been implemented in our country as well as all over the world since 1990. The only difference from frontal heart surgeries is the entrance site.
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