Heart surgery is a group of operations done to treat serious heart problems such as blocked arteries, damaged valves, birth defects in the heart, or weakened heart muscle. If you or your loved one has been advised a heart operation in Chandigarh, it usually means medicines alone are not enough, and surgery may help improve blood flow, relieve symptoms like chest pain or breathlessness, and reduce the risk of future heart attacks or heart failure.

Key Takeaways

What heart surgery means: Heart surgery includes procedures like bypass surgery, valve repair or replacement, and minimally invasive heart operations to improve blood flow and heart function.
Who may need it: People with severe coronary artery disease, damaged or leaking valves, some birth defects of the heart, or advanced heart failure may be advised surgery after detailed evaluation.
Types of procedures: Common options include CABG (bypass surgery), valve replacement, minimally invasive surgery, and some catheter-based procedures done through blood vessels.
Risks and recovery: Heart surgery is major surgery with possible risks such as bleeding, infection, or rhythm problems, but careful planning, experienced surgeons, and good post-operative care may help reduce complications.
Choosing a hospital: Look for an experienced heart surgeon, a dedicated cardiac ICU, round-the-clock emergency care, and a hospital team that explains your options clearly and supports your recovery.

What Is Heart Surgery and Why Is It Done?

Heart surgery is an operation on the heart or major blood vessels to treat life-threatening or disabling heart conditions. It is usually recommended when lifestyle changes and medicines are not enough to control symptoms or prevent serious complications like heart attack, stroke, or heart failure.

In a typical treatment plan, your cardiologist first tries medicines, lifestyle changes, and possibly stents (angioplasty). If these are not suitable or sufficient, you may be referred to a heart surgeon to discuss surgical options in detail.

Which heart conditions may need surgery?

Many different heart diseases can lead to a recommendation for surgery. Not everyone with these conditions will need an operation; the decision depends on severity, symptoms, and overall health.

Coronary artery disease: Narrowing or blockage of arteries supplying blood to the heart, often causing chest pain (angina) or heart attack.
Heart valve disease: Valves may become narrowed (stenosis) or leaky (regurgitation), making the heart work harder.
Congenital heart defects: Structural problems present from birth, such as holes between heart chambers.
Aortic disease: Problems in the main artery from the heart (aorta), such as aneurysm (dangerous ballooning).
Heart rhythm problems: Certain severe rhythm disturbances may need surgical procedures along with medication or devices.
Advanced heart failure: When the heart’s pumping ability is severely reduced, surgical options or devices may be considered.

What Are the Main Types of Heart Surgery?

The type of heart surgery recommended for you depends on your exact diagnosis, age, other medical problems like diabetes or kidney disease, and how severe your symptoms are. Your heart surgeon will explain which option is safest and most effective in your situation.

What is CABG (bypass surgery)?

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), commonly called bypass surgery, is done to improve blood flow to the heart muscle when the coronary arteries are severely blocked. The surgeon uses blood vessels from your leg, arm, or chest to create a new route (bypass) around the blockage.

When it may be advised: Multiple blocked arteries, left main artery disease, diabetes with severe blockages, or when angioplasty and stents are not suitable.
Goals: Reduce chest pain, improve exercise capacity, and lower the risk of future heart attacks and some heart-related complications.

What is heart valve repair or replacement?

Heart valve surgery is done when one or more valves are too tight or too leaky, causing symptoms like breathlessness, fatigue, swelling in legs, or fainting. The surgeon may repair the existing valve or replace it with a mechanical or tissue (biological) valve.

Valve repair: Often preferred for certain valves (like the mitral valve) when possible, because it may preserve your own tissue.
Valve replacement: Used when the valve is too damaged to repair; choice of valve type depends on age, lifestyle, and medical conditions.

What is minimally invasive heart surgery?

Minimally invasive heart surgery uses smaller cuts (incisions) instead of opening the entire chest bone. Special instruments and sometimes a camera are used to perform procedures such as certain valve repairs or bypasses.

Possible benefits: Smaller scars, less pain, shorter hospital stay, and potentially faster recovery for selected patients.
Not for everyone: Suitability depends on your anatomy, type of heart disease, and overall health; your surgeon will advise if this is an option.

What are catheter-based or “keyhole” heart procedures?

Some heart problems can be treated using thin tubes (catheters) passed through blood vessels in the leg or arm, without traditional open surgery. These are usually done by interventional cardiologists in a cardiac catheterization lab.

Examples include: Angioplasty and stent placement, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI/TAVR) in selected patients, and closure of some holes in the heart.
Who may benefit: People who are very high risk for open surgery, elderly patients, or those with specific types of valve or structural heart disease.

Who May Need a Heart Operation?

You may be advised heart surgery if your tests show serious disease and you have symptoms that affect your daily life, or if your condition carries a high risk of complications even if symptoms are mild. The decision is usually made by a “heart team” including cardiologists and heart surgeons.

Common reasons include repeated chest pain despite medicines, history of heart attack with severe blockages, worsening breathlessness from valve disease, or structural heart problems that cannot be controlled with medicines alone.

What tests are done before deciding on heart surgery?

Before recommending surgery, your doctors will order detailed tests to understand how your heart is functioning. These tests help in planning the safest and most effective treatment.

ECG (electrocardiogram): Checks your heart rhythm and signs of previous heart damage.
Echocardiography (echo): An ultrasound scan that shows heart pumping strength and valve function.
Stress test: Assesses how your heart responds to exercise or medicine-induced stress.
Coronary angiography: A dye test to see blockages in heart arteries.
Blood tests and imaging: To check kidney function, blood counts, sugar levels, and sometimes CT scans or MRI.

How Should You Prepare for Heart Surgery?

Preparing well for heart surgery may reduce risks and support smoother recovery. Your healthcare team will guide you step by step, but understanding the process can ease anxiety for you and your family.

In the days or weeks before surgery, you will meet the heart surgeon, anesthesiologist, and nursing team to discuss the plan, risks, and expected recovery timeline.

What happens in the pre-surgery evaluation?

Pre-surgery evaluation checks whether your body is ready for anesthesia and surgery. It also helps identify and manage any conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, or lung problems that may affect your operation or recovery.

Review of medical history, current medicines, and allergies.
Physical examination and review of your heart tests.
Additional blood tests, chest X-ray, and sometimes lung function tests.
Instructions about which medicines to continue or stop before surgery (for example, blood thinners).

What can you and your family do before admission?

A few simple steps may help you feel more prepared and in control. Discuss these with your treating team to see what is appropriate in your case.

Arrange a caregiver who can stay with you and help after discharge.
Stop smoking and limit alcohol if advised; this may improve healing and lung function.
Organize important documents, previous reports, and a list of all your medicines.
Clarify financial arrangements and insurance coverage with the hospital’s helpdesk.

What Happens During a Typical Heart Operation?

During heart surgery, you will be under general anesthesia, which means you are asleep and do not feel pain. The exact steps depend on the type of surgery, but your surgical team will monitor your heart, lungs, and vital signs continuously throughout the procedure.

After the surgery is completed, you will be shifted to a cardiac intensive care unit (ICU) for close observation and support.

How long does heart surgery usually take?

The duration of heart surgery varies with the complexity of the case and the number of procedures being done. A standard bypass or valve surgery may take several hours from start to finish, including preparation and recovery from anesthesia.

Simple procedures may be shorter, while combined surgeries (for example, bypass plus valve) can take longer.
Your surgeon will give an approximate time frame beforehand, but the team’s priority is always safety, not speed.

How Long Does It Take to Recover from Heart Surgery?

Recovery from heart surgery happens in stages: ICU stay, ward stay, and then home recovery with regular follow-up. Most patients spend a few days in the hospital after surgery, followed by several weeks to months of gradual healing and cardiac rehabilitation.

Recovery time depends on your age, type of surgery, general health, and how well you follow post-operative instructions such as medicines, wound care, diet, and activity restrictions.

What is the immediate recovery like?

Right after surgery, you will be in the cardiac ICU where your breathing, heart rhythm, blood pressure, and urine output are closely monitored. You may have tubes for drainage, IV lines, and a temporary breathing tube, which are removed as you stabilize.

Most patients are shifted out of the ICU within 1–2 days if stable.
Pain is usually manageable with medicines; you will be encouraged to cough, breathe deeply, and move with support to prevent complications.

What should you expect after going home?

Once home, you will slowly increase your activity level as advised. It is normal to feel tired, emotional, or anxious during this phase; healing takes time, and support from family and your medical team is important.

Follow your medicine schedule carefully, especially blood thinners and heart medicines.
Keep the surgical wound clean and dry, and watch for signs of infection like redness, swelling, or discharge.
Attend all follow-up visits for stitch removal (if needed), wound check, and adjustment of medicines.
Cardiac rehabilitation (supervised exercise and counselling) may be recommended to build strength safely.

What Are the Possible Risks and Complications of Heart Surgery?

All major surgeries carry risks, and heart surgery is no exception. However, careful evaluation, experienced surgeons, and good post-operative care may help lower these risks. Your doctor will discuss procedure-specific risks with you before taking consent.

Risk level can vary based on age, other illnesses (like diabetes, kidney disease, lung disease), smoking, obesity, and previous heart damage.

What complications should you be aware of?

Not every patient will experience complications, but being aware helps you recognize warning signs early. If you notice anything unusual after surgery, contact your treating team immediately.

Bleeding or need for blood transfusion.
Infection of the wound, lungs, or urinary tract.
Irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias).
Breathing difficulties or pneumonia.
Stroke, kidney problems, or memory issues in some high-risk patients.

Source: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), heart disease remains a leading cause of illness and death worldwide, but timely treatment and appropriate surgery when indicated can significantly improve survival and quality of life.

How Do You Choose the Right Hospital and Heart Surgeon?

Choosing where to have heart surgery is a major decision for you and your family. You may want to consider the hospital’s cardiac facilities, the experience of the heart surgeons, and how well the team communicates and supports you through the process.

In and around Chandigarh, many people look for a center that offers comprehensive heart treatment under one roof, from diagnosis and emergency care to surgery and rehabilitation.

What factors should you look at when comparing options?

Instead of focusing only on the word “best,” try to understand how well a hospital and surgeon match your medical needs and comfort level. A transparent discussion about your condition and realistic outcomes is a positive sign.

Experience and qualifications: Check the training and years of experience of the heart surgeon and cardiology team.
Dedicated cardiac ICU: A specialized intensive care unit with trained cardiac nurses and round-the-clock monitoring.
Emergency and backup services: 24x7 emergency care, advanced diagnostic facilities, and availability of other specialists (like nephrology or pulmonology) if needed.
Patient communication: Doctors who explain your condition, options, and risks in simple language and allow time for questions.
Post-surgery support: Availability of cardiac rehabilitation, diet counselling, and follow-up care.

Seeking Care at Healing Hospital

Facing the possibility of heart surgery can feel overwhelming—for you as well as for your family. Worries about the operation, recovery, and future life are completely natural. You do not have to navigate these questions alone.

At Healing Hospital’s Cardiac Sciences Department, our approach focuses on detailed evaluation, clear explanation of every step, and individualized care plans. Our cardiology and cardiac surgery teams work together to decide whether you truly need surgery, and if so, which type of procedure may be safest and most beneficial in your situation.

If you are experiencing symptoms such as chest pain, breathlessness on walking, unexplained fatigue, or have been told you may need a heart operation, do not delay a specialist opinion. If you are in Chandigarh or the surrounding region, you can schedule a consultation at Healing Hospital to discuss your reports, understand your options, and plan a personalized path toward safer heart health.