A cardiac surgeon is a specialist who focuses on the heart, lungs and vascular system. They perform life-saving surgical procedures to help preserve heart function and lung function. A cardiologist is often a cardiac surgeon, but that’s not always the case.
A heart hospital is a hospital that is known for cardiac care and cardiac rehab. It’s also one of the likeliest places that you will meet a cardiac surgeon. These professionals have the skill set needed to save lives.
More About Cardiac Surgeons
This type of surgeon has years of additional training and formal education which far surpasses other types of cardiologists. They spend decades honing their skill set to be able to provide the care that patients deserve.
Your cardiologist or primary care physician may refer you to this type of surgeon if there is an indication that surgery will help to improve the condition and function of your heart. You will consult with this surgeon and they likely will run additional testing to ensure the surgery is the right choice for your condition.
In some cases, patients require emergency surgical intervention to save their life because of a heart condition, this is the surgeon that will manage the surgery. These surgeons are lifesavers.
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Many people mistakenly believe that a cardiac surgeon’s skill set is limited to the heart, which simply is not true. While the heart is a primary focus, the lungs are also within the realm of the cardiac surgeon’s expertise.
These highly skilled surgeons deliver life-saving treatment and surgical interventions for all the organs located in the chest cavity. They not only perform surgery but are often a very important part of the care team and work with a multi-disciplinary team of professionals.
Some of the surgeries a cardiac surgeon will perform include:
- Repairing heart valves, aortic surgery, bypass surgery
- Congenital deformities including septal defects (hole in the heart)
- Placing aortic stents, cardiac catheterization
Some cardiac surgeons are cardiothoracic surgeons and perform surgery to remove lung tumors, treat lung cancers, perform lung and heart transplants, and more.
A cardiac surgeon may oversee your cardiac rehab at the cardiovascular center. These gifted surgeons provide a wide range of care for their patients.
Now that you know a bit more about what these valuable surgeons do on a daily basis, you may be in a better position to determine whether you need one — or feel more at ease about visiting one at the recommendation of your doctor.