The risk of heart surgery depends on the type of operation performed and the patient medical condition. For example performing two valve replacements carries more risk than one valve, and patient with some medical condition such as diabetes and high blood pressure can have more complications than someone who does not.
Patients Rights:
Even though the risk of heart surgery nowadays is minimal, it is Patients' rights to be aware of the potential risks and complications.
Surgeons aim to provide accurate assessment of the risk from heart surgery based on some models and their experience.
Risk Factors:
If any of these factors is present, this will increase the risk and potential complications from heart surgery. Some of these factors are:
- Type of operation
- Age of the patient
- Gender
- Kidney disease
- Vascular disease
- Mobility
- Lung disease
- Extent of heart disease
- Strength of the heart muscle
Risks and Complications:
Heart surgery has become very safe but it remains major surgery that affects the whole body. It can have a wide range of potential complications affecting any organ. Luckily most of the complications are rare, mild and treatable.
Minor complications
- Bleeding:
Requiring blood transfusions
Excessive bleeding requiring patient to be reopened
Bleeding around the heart and lung could be treated with small tube.
- Infections
- Heart attach or heart failure
- Irregular heart rhythm
- Requiring permanent pacemaker
- Breathing complications
- Kidney complications
- Bowel and abdominal complication
- Wound infection
Major complications (Rare)
- Risk of dying
-Risk of major stroke