| Broken Heart? Heart Procedure Basics Have you or a family member had a heart procedure or been told by a physician that you might need a procedure in the future? Procedures may be done to: - Bypass blocked heart arteries (this is the most common type of heart surgery for adults).
- Repair abnormal or damaged structures in the heart, such as valves.
- Implant medical devices that help control the heartbeat or support heart function and blood flow.
- Replace a damaged heart with a healthy heart from a donor.
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)
CABG, or "bypass surgery," is a very common type of heart surgery that is used to improve blood flow to the heart in people who have severe coronary heart disease (CHD), also called coronary artery disease. During CABG, a healthy artery or vein from the body is connected, or grafted, around the blocked portion of a coronary artery to form a bypass around the blockage. There are several types of CABG, ranging from traditional surgery, in which the chest is opened to reach the heart, to nontraditional surgery, in which only small incisions are made to bypass the blocked or narrowed artery.
Learn more about CABG. Angioplasties and Stents
Many people who have CHD can be treated with lifestyle changes, medicines, or a procedure called angioplasty, which is used to open blocked or narrowed arteries in the heart. During angioplasty, a small mesh tube, known as a stent, may be placed in an artery to help keep it open. Stents support the inner artery wall and reduce the chance of the artery becoming narrowed or blocked again. Some stents are coated with medicines that are slowly and continuously released into the artery to help prevent it from becoming blocked again.
Learn more about angioplasties and view a video animation of an angioplasty with stent placement. There are numerous types of heart procedures. In addition to treating CHD, procedures may be done to repair or replace heart valves, treat arrhythmias, repair an aneurysm, or close an opening between heart chambers. The results of heart surgery and other procedures are often excellent. They can reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. Learn about the basics of heart surgery and view a video animation of how the heart works. Screening Tests
Your health care team may have you complete several diagnostic tests if you have signs and symptoms that suggest a heart problem. Some of the tests may include: - Electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG). This simple, painless test records your heart's electrical activity. It shows how fast your heart is beating, whether the rhythm of your heartbeat is steady or irregular, and the timing of electrical signals as they pass through each part of your heart.
- Imaging, such as echocardiography (shown). This painless test, also known as echo, uses sound waves to create pictures of your heart. It gives your doctor information about the size and shape of your heart and how well your heart's chambers and valves are working. Other imaging tests include nuclear heart scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
- Stress test. This test gives your doctor information about how your heart works during physical stress. During the test, your heart is monitored as you exercise (walk or run on a treadmill or pedal a stationary bicycle).
- Coronary angiography. This test uses contrast dye to make your coronary arteries visible on an x-ray image (called an angiogram). The test shows the location and severity of blockages in the blood vessels.
If you have a heart problem, your doctors will work with you to decide whether you need a heart procedure, based on the kind of problem you have, your symptoms, your history and past treatment for heart problems, your family's history of heart problems, whether you have other health conditions, your age, and your general health.
Learn more about screening tests.
Patty's Story "My doctor diagnosed me as having a heart murmur a couple of years ago and said I should check in with a cardiologist every few years. I started feeling out of breath while doing everyday things, like practicing soccer with my daughter. At first, I just chalked it up to being out of shape, but it got worse. I've always had a lot of energy, so I went to my doctor. She told me my heart condition could be fatal if I didn't get to a hospital very soon. "A few weeks later, I had surgery to replace my aortic valve. It's important for people to realize that life doesn't have to come to a halt just because they've been a heart patient. The joke among my colleagues, clients, and those who have known me for decades is that I still don't slow down! There are a lot of things I want to do in my life, so I know it's important to take care of my health." Read more "stories from the heart."
Popular Resources Your Guide to Living Well With Heart Disease
This highly rated booklet provides step-by-step guidance to help people with heart disease make decisions that will protect and improve their lives. It includes information about testing for heart disease, controlling risk factors, treatments, and recovering from a heart attack or heart procedure. (shown) The Healthy Heart Handbook for Women
This handbook provides information on women's heart disease, including practical suggestions for reducing your risk of heart-related problems.
News and Events A Special Visitor to the NHLBI
Greg Goldman, an eighth grader from Williston, Vermont, recently visited the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) as part of a yearlong school research project on congenital heart defects. Goldman, who was born with a small heart defect, is shown with Dr. Gail Pearson, a pediatric cardiologist and director of the NHLBI Program in Adult and Pediatric Cardiac Research. Pearson told him, "We hope you'll be an ambassador to spread the word about the important work the National Institutes of Health is doing, and come back in a few years for an internship."
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