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Top 5 Signs You May Need Heart Surgery

Top 5 Signs You May Need Heart Surgery

Patients can make a lot of assumptions about heart surgery. One of the most common misconceptions is that once surgery enters the conversation, you have no other treatment choice. Not only is this assumption incorrect, it can prematurely stop patients from investigating all of their options.  

5 Signs that indicate you might benefit from Heart Surgery

To put it plainly, surgery isn’t the right solution for every patient. Some patients are not good candidates due to age, risk level, or other health conditions. Other patients are more likely to respond to less invasive treatments. Open heart surgery carries risks, even for otherwise healthy patients; it is not a risk that surgeons universally recommend taking.

That said, it begs the question: are there situations where heart surgery should be seriously considered? Yes, of course. We will review the top 5 signs that you need heart surgery.

Sign #1: Your left main artery is extremely narrow. Your heart has several veins and arteries that circulate blood within the cardiac muscle and pump it throughout the body. The left main artery feeds directly into the heart. If it is restricted or blocked, then your heart is not getting the sufficient blood supply it needs to function.

Sign #2: All cardiac arteries are 80 to 90 percent restricted or blocked. At this point, your heart function has decreased to a life-threatening level. If emergent invasive action is not taken as soon as possible, you are at high risk for a stroke or sudden cardiac death.

Sign #3: The surgeon or interventional cardiologist recommends heart surgery. Heart surgeons have the training and experience to know what treatment protocol works best on a case-by-case basis. If they are recommending surgery over other treatment alternatives, it means that you will likely have more success with this approach then you would with angioplasty or stents.

Sign #4: You need surgery to address another type of heart condition, like a valve replacement. Assuming you’re healthy enough for surgery, your cardiologist may recommend addressing both problems at once. This will improve your heart function overall and put less stress on the muscle over the long-term.

Sign #5: You have diabetes, as well as two or more blocked arteries. The more risk factors you have, the greater your chances of suffering a heart attack. Cardiac surgery may be your best option to avoid this outcome.

Patients typically experience immediate relief from chronic symptoms like chest pain and pressure, but surgery is not a cure for heart disease. You also have to make long-term lifestyle changes.

Dr. Seldon, a Heart Doctor and Cardiologist in New York City, offers same day appointments and all testing is done on site.  Call us at (212) 367-8000.