What is a cardiac surgery examination?

A cardiac surgery examination is a critical step in the preparation of a patient who has already been diagnosed with a heart or circulatory system disease and will have to undergo surgery. Thereafter the visit is used as a monitoring tool to keep track of a patients post surgical recovery.

 

What is the purpose of a cardiac surgery examination?

The examination is used to familiarize and prepare a patient for different types of cardiac surgery such as a coronary bypass for the treatment of cardiac ischemia, valvular surgery for the replacement of heart valves, surgery of the ventricular system, surgical treatment for atrial fibrillation and heart failure, treatment of the thoracic aortic aneurysms and congenital heart defects. It is also used for heart cancer treatment, and for the installation of pacemakers and other implantable instruments in the body in order to help with the control of cardiac dysfunctions.

 

How is a cardiac surgery examination carried out?

The surgeon collects information about the history and lifestyle of the patient including nutrition, smoking habits, physical activity level and physical inactivity, current pathologies, previous interventions, family history of heart diseases, and medication intake.
Subsequently the patient is prescribed all the necessary tests needed before the surgery takes place such as blood tests, radiological, and cardiological examinations.
The surgical team will then take into consideration all the information available along with the risk of a thromboembolism, and bleeding of the patient during the surgery and will decide on the most appropriate course of action.

 

Are there any guidelines for preparation?

There are no standards of preparation, the patient is asked to bring along any tests carried out previously on the matter and a list of current medications the patient might be taking.