Who is a doctor who performs heart surgery called? (Cardiac Surgeon) Let's learn about this!

Have you ever wondered who we should see when we need to have an operation for a heart problem? Or who is the doctor who performs surgery to save the heart in an emergency, and what exactly does he do? One such very important person is a cardiac surgeon. Today, let's talk about who this cardiac surgeon is and what he does.

What is Cardiac Surgery?

Simply put, any operation that is performed on your heart or the major blood vessels that connect to it is called heart surgery. Sometimes, it can also involve surgery on the tissues closest to the heart or other things. Think about it, the heart is like a small motor in our body, how important it is to keep it working properly! Therefore, such surgeries need to be done with great care and expertise.

Are there different types of heart surgeons?

Yes, we can mainly divide cardiac surgeons into two types. Although there are many similarities in the work they do, they are classified this way because of some major differences.

Cardiothoracic Surgeon

These doctors are sometimes called Cardiothoracic Surgeons or General Thoracic Surgeons . The Greek word 'Thoracic' means 'chest'. So, as the name suggests, these doctors perform surgeries on many of the organs in the chest cavity. For example, they perform surgeries on the heart and its major blood vessels, the lungs, the esophagus , which carries food from your mouth to your stomach, and the trachea .

However, some thoracic surgeons may focus only on diseases related to the heart, the sac around the heart (pericardium), and the great blood vessels of the heart. Others may specialize only in diseases of the chest other than the heart and great blood vessels.

Congenital/Pediatric Heart Surgeon

These doctors specialize in repairing structural problems or defects in the heart that are present at birth. For example, some babies are born with heart valve problems or holes in the walls between the chambers of the heart (such as a Ventricular Septal Defect or an Atrial Septal Defect) . These are the people who are there to fix things like that.

Some doctors perform these surgeries on adults – because sometimes congenital heart disease is only discovered in adulthood. However, others are specially trained to perform these surgeries on young children, infants, and newborns. Their work is very specialized, and there are very few pediatric heart surgeons compared to those who only operate on adults. Because this is such delicate work, it requires a lot of specialized training and experience.

How much experience and training is needed to become a heart surgeon?

In fact, the education and training required to become a cardiac surgeon is enormous . It takes at least 15 years. Some cardiac surgical specialties can take more than 20 years. Imagine the dedication! It's like running a marathon, but over many years.

Every cardiac surgeon must complete the following:

• You need to complete a Bachelor's degree in about three to four years.
• After that, you need to study for four years in medical school and obtain a medical degree (Medical Doctor or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree) .

Then, you need to choose one of these two:

• A five-year general surgery residency followed by two or three years of cardiothoracic surgery residency .
• Or, a six-year Integrated Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency (ICTSR) .

To become a Congenital Heart Surgeon, you also need to complete a year of special training (Fellowship). That means you can imagine how much time you spend learning, training, and gaining experience. All of this is done to become the best person who can take care of your heart.

What kind of diseases does a cardiac surgeon treat?

A cardiac surgeon can treat any disease, condition, or injury that requires surgery to repair or correct . This can range from an injury from an accident – ​​think a car accident, a stab wound, or a gunshot wound – to repairing damage to the heart from a disease or a congenital condition. Some of the main conditions that require a cardiac surgeon are:

• Heart valve diseases.
• Heart Rhythm Disorders (Arrhythmias) .
• Heart failure due to heart disease.
• Aortic Dissection .
• Congenital heart defects such as holes between the chambers of the heart - for example , Ventricular Septal Defect and Atrial Septal Defect .

What surgeries and procedures do cardiac surgeons perform?

Cardiac surgeons perform a wide range of surgical and medical procedures. Some of the most common include:

• Maze Procedure - This is done for certain heart rhythm irregularities.
• Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) - We also call this 'bypass'. This involves creating new pathways for the arteries that supply blood to the heart when they are blocked.
• Surgeries for congenital heart disease.
• Heart valve repair and replacement surgery.
• Implanting devices into the heart - as an exampleThings like (Pacemakers) and (Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators - ICDs) . But these can sometimes be done by a doctor who specializes in the electrical activity of the heart (Electrophysiology) .
• Surgery for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy .
• Heart Transplants - This is a very complex surgery.

Surgeons are trained in several different ways to perform the same type of surgery. These may include:

• Minimally Invasive Surgery: These are similar to regular open surgeries, but are performed through very small incisions and with special instruments. Small incisions result in faster healing, less pain, less bleeding, and generally lower risks.
• Robot-assisted surgery: A specially trained surgeon can perform surgery with the help of a robot. Imagine sitting at a control panel near the operating table, the doctor ‘operates’ the robot. The surgery is performed using instruments attached to the robot’s arms. A special camera on the robot is inserted into the body through a single incision, allowing the doctor to see inside the body. This is often seen in three dimensions (3-D) , just as we see the world with our own eyes. Not only that, the robot also makes it easier for the doctor to manipulate instruments inside the body, and the range of motion of the arm is greater (some instruments can rotate 360 ​​degrees, which is much greater than a doctor’s arm). This technology has made it possible to perform surgeries with greater precision.

What are the responsibilities of a cardiac surgeon besides performing surgeries?

A cardiac surgeon is not just someone who performs operations. His duties also include (and are not limited to) the following:

• Record keeping: You need to keep detailed records and notes about the surgeries performed and what was done at the time. This is very important for other doctors and for the future.
• Teaching: Many cardiac surgeons work in teaching hospitals. This means that while they see patients, they teach future doctors and surgeons about heart surgery and how it affects patients.
• Training: These doctors practice with other doctors, surgeons, and operating room staff, much like actors rehearsing for a play, so that they can perform the actual operation smoothly and safely.
• Continuing Education and Training: Every doctor needs to continue learning and practicing new things. As medical science advances day by day, they need to stay up to date with new surgical techniques and new medications. Depending on the laws of their country or state, they may have certain requirements that they must meet. If they do not meet these requirements, they may lose their license to practice medicine. This is very important.This includes rigorous board certification education and exams. Some exams last for hours, even days.

Why see a heart surgeon? What to expect?

Heart surgery is usually a very serious matter . It is often done when there is no better option – that is, when there is no safer, more effective way to help you.

In most cases, you will have time to learn about the heart surgery you are going to have, what to expect, and how to prepare. The doctor will explain everything to you.

But in an emergency, you may need to have heart surgery without delay. In such a case, the surgeon will talk to your family, loved ones, or someone who can speak for you and make medical decisions. The surgeon will do his best to help you understand what is happening, why you need surgery, and what to expect.

Do you need a referral to see a cardiac surgeon?

Yes, absolutely. To see a cardiac surgeon, you need a referral . That referral is usually from a cardiologist or another specialist. This means that another specialist or doctor is the first to recognize a condition or problem that requires surgery. In an emergency, the doctor or specialist on duty can discuss your condition with the cardiac surgeon on duty, recommend options, and suggest the best course of treatment for you.

Needing heart surgery can be a scary and overwhelming experience. Fortunately, you don't have to go through it alone. Behind every patient who needs heart surgery is a team of healthcare providers and professionals, from technicians and support staff to nurses, specialists and surgeons. Being a heart surgeon is a huge commitment , it's a very demanding profession, and only the best can get there. That means a large team of skilled, trained, educated and passionate medical professionals doing everything they can to help you recover and get back to your life.

So, what are the most important things we need to remember from this story?

A cardiac surgeon is a doctor with highly specialized training who performs surgeries on the heart and the major blood vessels associated with it.

• There are different types of them, some perform surgeries on almost all parts of the chest (Cardiothoracic Surgeon) , while others specialize in congenital heart diseases (Congenital/Pediatric Heart Surgeon) .
• Becoming a heart surgeon requires a long period of study and training, perhaps 15-20 years.Yes. It requires a lot of dedication.
• They treat many conditions, including heart valve disease, arrhythmias , heart conditions, and congenital heart defects.
• They perform bypass surgeries (CABG) , valve replacements, and now also perform minimally invasive and robot-assisted surgeries .
• In addition to performing surgeries, their responsibilities include keeping records, teaching others, and continuing to learn new things.
• Although heart surgery is a serious matter, remember that you have a team of skilled doctors to help you. You will usually receive a referral to see a heart surgeon from a cardiologist .

So, I hope this information is helpful to you. If you have any further questions, don't hesitate to ask a doctor! Taking care of your heart is very important.

` Cardiac Surgeon, Heart Surgery, Heart Disease, Bypass Surgery, Heart Operation, Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Congenital Heart Surgery, CABG, Pacemaker