Cardiothoracic Surgeon

A cardiothoracic surgeon is also called a cardiac surgeon, cardiovascular surgeon, general thoracic surgeon, lung surgeon and congenital heart surgeon. Such surgeons perform heart surgery or lung surgery indicated in cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease.

Coronary artery disease is one of the most common diseases treated by cardiothoracic surgeons. Heart bypass surgeries are needed in the event of a heart attack owing to blockage of a coronary artery which is a major blood vessel of the heart. Such blockages cause heart attacks. Coronary artery diseases may predispose a person to a coronary blockade.

Open-heart surgery may be done to perform a coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), a most common type of heart surgery. A coronary artery bypass graft may be necessary for people with coronary heart disease. Open-heart surgery is also done to repair or replace heart valves, repair damaged areas of the heart, or implant a pacemaker, or in heart transplant. A heart transplant, or a cardiac transplant, is performed on patients with advanced heart disease such as end-stage heart failure or severe coronary artery disease.

Congenital heart surgeons care for babies and children with congenital heart disease such as holes between the heart chambers or abnormal connections within the heart, disorders such as patent foramen ovale or septal defects or impaired heart valves.

General thoracic surgeons treat primarily lung cancer and diseases of the oesophagus and chest wall. Lung surgeries are performed mainly owing to lung cancer.

If you are interested to make an appointment with a qualified cardiothoracic surgeon, easily on a mobile or webpage, you can use GetDoc, one of the more comprehensive medical Apps available, to help you find a clinic nearby.