Cardiac Surgeon

"A scalpel, scissors ..." is a phrase familiar to everyone. There is an operation. People stand in white coats at the operating table, but only one person manages the entire process. It's a surgeon. Well, he who works with the heart, cardiac surgeon. Few people like going to hospitals and polyclinics, especially if such a specialist is expected to attend. Still would! After all, a cardiac surgeon, works with the most important human organ.

A bit of history. The fundamentals of surgery became known in ancient Greece and Rome. But if earlier, in the distant 1890s, the famous German doctor Theodore Billroth thought of him like this: "I will not respect that surgeon who touches the heart of a person."

At that moment, he could not think that the cardiac surgeon, working with the heart, could directly not only do no harm to him, but also help to feel again the best way. Since that time, medicine has reached great heights and now it is developing quite quickly. Diseases, which in the 80 years of the 20th century did not succumb to surgical intervention, are now successfully operated. Cardiosurgery and cardiosurgery separately are engaged today:

• operations on the valves of the heart,
• install pacemakers,
• do shunting of the aorta,
• expand the narrowed aorta due to the metal framework,
• and even safely transplanted the heart.

All this with success today is doing cardiosurgery. It is also worth noting that the operations on the coronary vessels, which began in the Soviet Union in the early 1970s, are now a popular method of cardiac surgery worldwide. The difference of that time and the modern is great. More recently, the operation was conducted only on a stopped heart, with an artificial circulation connected to the apparatus. At the same time, doctors have proved that this has a very unfavorable effect on blood cells and causes some serious complications. But since the late 90's cardiac surgeons are trying to work directly on the functioning heart, thereby adjusting to its rhythm. In addition, today in cardiac surgery every year, increasingly using high technology. Some of them give an excellent opportunity even to refuse operations on the open heart, making manipulations through a vein or artery. A modern controlled robot that is widely used in cardiac surgery is also not from the realm of fiction, but today's technology.

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Who is a cardiac surgeon?

A cardiosurgeon is a doctor who treats heart diseases in an operative way. Cardiosurgery in other countries is called cardiothoracic surgery (from the Greek thorax - breast). Despite the differences in the name, this is the field of medicine, located at the junction of surgery and cardiology, quite closely related to vascular surgery. Everyone who needs help needs good cardiosurgeons. Today, cardiovascular diseases suffer more than 15 million patients, and more than half of all deaths are accounted for precisely these reasons. In addition, for every 1000 babies, there are 8 infants with congenital heart disease.

A cardiosurgeon is an "instrument" of God, on which human life depends. And the cardiac surgeon always remembers it. He knows that he is responsible for human life. This doctor is always prone to nervous and physical stress. But this is the main minus in the profession of a cardiac surgeon. But it pays off the result. If a person who until recently was seriously ill, and after the operation is full of energy, vivacity - this is the most important merit for the doctor.

What qualities should a cardiac surgeon have?

1. Propensity to natural sciences.
2. Good health.
3. Stress resistance.
4. A great desire to help people.
5. Readiness and ability to justifiable risk.
6. Excellent coordination of movements.
7. Dedication.
8. Sacrifice.
9. Do not spare the time and energy to save the life of another.

In addition to the above characteristics of nature, you can add more and responsibility, and the ability not to give up early, even in the most difficult situations. Physical endurance, the desire to help and work with your hands, sensitive fingers, great intelligence, a tendency to endless development - these are several important criteria for a good doctor. In addition to anatomy, physiology and other disciplines, the skills that must undoubtedly be given to a cardiac surgeon include excellent knowledge of the structure and functioning of the heart and vessels, the clinical manifestations and methods of treating cardiovascular diseases. He should be aware of diagnostic techniques, be able to analyze the electrocardiogram, radiography, etc. The profession of a cardiac surgeon obliges him to be able to perform heart surgery, which can be attributed, both planned and emergency. Do various manipulations, ranging from surgical treatment of wounds and ending with resuscitation.

In addition to higher education, he must necessarily complete internship or internship in the specialty of "cardiosurgery". Before a young surgeon is first entrusted with heart surgery, many years in a medical institution must pass. The knowledge and skills that are necessary for him in the future are obtained slowly. One who once decided to connect his life with cardiac surgery, can long to wait in the wings. At the beginning of his journey, this specialist simply has to fight in a certain sense for the opportunity to even simply attend the operation, helping to perform the simplest manipulations. Career in cardiac surgery is in a sense a risk: it takes a very long time to study, hoping that in the future he will become a wonderful cardiac surgeon who will justify his rank and, of course, will deserve the respect of colleagues and the patients surrounding him. Such a long way and the difficulties encountered on it frighten young specialists. Sometimes, they at some point in the course of training change the chosen specialty, realizing the complexity of this area of medicine. And those who go forward, no matter what - become real professionals of their business, in order to literally daily hold human hearts in their hands and make them work correctly, fight again and again.

When should I go to a cardiac surgeon?

If a person has various forms of IHD, aneurysm of the thoracic aorta, life-threatening arrhythmias, heart defects, then with such ailments the cardiologist can refer the patients to the cardiac surgeon. He solves questions about coronary artery bypass grafting, stenting, or other heart surgery. We all, without exception, need to know exactly when to go to a cardiac surgeon?

So, if you experience:

• heartache,
• weak pulse,
• shortness of breath with small physical exertion,
• lethargy;

You are overcome:

• sad mood,
• irritability,
• discouragement;

Worried:

• a bad dream,
• cardiopalmus,
• premature aging,
• abnormally fast fatigue, with this common set of signs of heart disease,

You should immediately contact a cardiac surgeon.

Here are some more symptoms that will remind you that you have serious heart diseases.

1. If you are sick with hypotension (low blood pressure), then you will be characterized by puffiness and pallor of the face.
2. The bluish-red color of the cheeks symbolizes irregularities in the work of the mitral valve.
3. Hypertension can be seen with a red bumpy nose with veins of blood vessels.
4. If you have a lack of circulation of the heart or respiratory organs, you can see cyanosis not only of the cheeks, but also of the forehead, and moreover, the pallor or cyanosis of the lips will be clearly visible on the face.
5. A strongly protruding curved temporal artery can tell about the approach of a hypertensive crisis.
6. Violation of the sensitivity and numbness of the skin area between the chin and lips can be an indicator of the rapid approach of myocardial infarction.

There are also some signs of blood circulation pathologies that require urgent medical attention:

• shortness of breath, in which the patient, as if unable to make a full breath,
• increased pallor or a strange red complexion,
• weakly felt, but frequent pulse,
• suddenly "extinct" look,
• slurred speech,
• the patient does not react to the speech addressed to him,
• fainting.

What tests should I take when I go to a cardiac surgeon?

To prepare for a visit to a cardiac surgeon, you need to have data from previous examinations and a diagnostic study. Before, to seek help in the hospital, it is necessary for the patient to pass the appropriate tests. What tests should I take when I go to a cardiac surgeon?

These include:

• LDG, LDG 1;
• AsT, AlT;
• Prothrombin index;
• Cholesterol;
• Fibrinogen;
• Triglycerides;
• Alpha-lipoprotein cholesterol;
• Electrolytes / K, Na, Ca, Cl, Mg /;
• Acid-base condition.
• Coagulogram should also be carried out without fail.

What happens at the reception of a cardiac surgeon?

• The doctor carefully listens to the complaints of the patient who turns to him, asks about the features of the course of the disease, gets acquainted with the medical documentation.
• He then conducts a physical examination and measures blood pressure.
• Then he prescribes a preoperative examination, medical treatment, in case of acute necessity appoints the date of the operation.

What diagnostic methods does the cardiac surgeon use?

These can be attributed to well-known to everyone, such as:

• phonocardiography,
• electrocardiography,
• angiocardiography,
• probing the cavities of the heart,
• echo-dopplerography,
• scintigraphy of the myocardium at rest and under physical exertion / single-photon CT scintigraphy of the myocardium with thallium,
• electro-physiological study,
• coronary angiography,
• balloon angioplasty and stenting,
• transesophageal echocardiography,
• chest X-ray,
• computed tomography,
• scintigraphy of the myocardium, kidneys, lungs,
• holter monitoring of ECG,
• stress-ECHO-KG,
• multispiral computed tomography (MSCT).

In addition, a cardiologist can be assigned a magnetic resonance (MR) angiography of the coronary arteries and an electrophysiological examination.

These are the diagnostic methods used by a cardiac surgeon? In case of need, consultations of specialized specialists may be necessary. The importance of these or those surveys in each individual case is determined by a specialist.

What diseases are treated by a cardiac surgeon?

Features of his profession are to help people to explore heart diseases, to heal congenital and acquired heart defects, large vessels, arrhythmia. His competence includes the treatment of ischemic disease and its complications. The cardiosurgeon solves the problems of heart transplantation, is engaged in the development of an artificial heart. This specialist is required if traditional conservative methods do not benefit the sick heart, and if they help, it is not enough.

Ischemic heart disease is an example. It occurs when there is a violation of the movement of blood in the coronary vessels. The heart muscle lacks oxygen, resulting in recurrent angina attacks after a certain time, which can subsequently lead to myocardial infarction. To avoid this, it is necessary to resort to the most effective way of treating ischemic disease - surgery. This is exactly the specialist who will take part in it directly.

If you are interested, what diseases are the cardiosurgeons engaged in? This will be discussed below.

So, this doctor, studies:

• arrhythmia of the heart,
• arterial hypertension,
• arterial hypotension,
• vegetative-vascular dystonia,
• myocardial infarction,
• ischemic heart disease,
• cardialgia,
• cardiomyopathy,
• cardiosclerosis,
• kolaps,
• stroke,
• pulmonary heart,
• myocardial dystrophy,
• neurocirculatory dystonia,
• cardiac asthma,
• heart failure,
• cardiovascular crises,
• angina pectoris,
• endocarditis.

The cardiosurge doctor deals with the treatment of atherosclerosis of coronary and arteriosclerosis of blood vessels. Pulmonary edema, pericarditis, hypertensive crisis - also his "horse".

What does the cardiac surgeon do?

Operations on the heart, a complex and rather risky method of treatment. But he is under the power of a cardiac surgeon! The main thing is that he necessarily was not only a high-quality surgeon, but also an excellent analyst who knows how to weigh all the pros and cons before approaching the operation. He needs to be aware of parallel medical specialties, such as: anesthesiology, functional diagnostics, topographic anatomy, etc.

Operations on the heart can last from 6 to 12 hours. Helps him in this whole team! 4 medics and more people take an important part in saving a person's life. All employees must be very hardy, be able to work in a team. Therefore, most cardiosurgeons are men.

The cardiosurgeon carries out operative treatment of heart diseases and his vessels in the case when the medicamental treatment does not give effective results. In addition, the doctor carries out the necessary studies and manipulations in order to clarify the diagnosis and scope of the forthcoming surgical intervention. This doctor, once again, is obliged to conduct operations, during which he gets rid of congenital or acquired heart defects, does aortocoronary bypass, inserts a cardiostimulator into the chest, and so on. The cardiosurgeon, in addition to the above, deals with the study of the structure, function, heart and vascular diseases, studies the causes of their occurrence, mechanisms of development, clinical manifestations, and makes the final diagnosis. Also, he chooses the appropriate methods of treatment, offers the patient some kind of prevention, deals with the issues of medical rehabilitation of patients with cardiovascular system lesions.

Advices of a cardiac surgeon

Vessels are a vital system of the human body. In order for a person to always feel well, it is necessary that the vessels are healthy. Of course, it is difficult to keep them in their original form, especially when living in a big city. Therefore, in order to keep the blood vessels healthy, you will need the wise advice of a cardiosurge doctor.

1. To keep the vessels clean and strong, you need to breathe as much as possible with fresh air. To do this, it is best to travel to nature, as little as possible to be in places where it is smoked. If you smoke yourself, stop this bad habit as soon as possible, so as not to shorten your life ahead of time. According to scientists who conducted research with thousands of people, they found that people who smoke are 25-30% at risk of dying from a heart attack or stroke. The reason for this is atherosclerosis.
2. Eat right. It is important at the same time to regularly add bran to food. It is especially tasty to add them to yoghurts, but they are real, without preservatives. But the latter is best prepared by yourself on the basis of natural ingredients. Bran binds unnecessary to the body fats, thereby reducing cholesterol in the blood, which is dangerous for blood vessels.

Do you know what doctors do themselves to protect their health? When the famous Leo Bokeria was asked how to protect his heart from the disease, he said that the main thing is not to get too involved in food, not to overeat. He gave one more important advice: "Do not overburden yourself with complex sports loads. You can resort to sports games or gymnastics: "Try to stand for a couple of minutes with your arm raised or on one leg. Loads must be significant, and the result is like running. " He himself admitted that he did this gymnastics even during operations, which usually lasted for hours.

3. There are 3 "not", without which you can not keep the heart healthy, strong! Do not overeat, do not drink, do not sit still! The initial form of hypertension can be successfully cured by physical stress, such as walking.
4. It is worth eating more raw vegetables. Eat plenty of garlic. It is useful to eat a clove of garlic in the morning on an empty stomach, slowly chewing it in your mouth. Of course, this procedure is not a pleasant one, but it is very necessary for our vessels. If you have a weak stomach, then the dose of garlic should be the most insignificant. It is best to consult a doctor.
5. In the morning and before going to bed, you need to eat 1 teaspoon of honey. You can dilute it in a glass with warm water. In it you can add a little lemon juice.
6. Again, physical culture, above all. In this case, blood circulation will improve, capillaries will expand, into which blood previously acted with difficulty. The organs and the brain will receive a large amount of oxygen. The contrast shower is also good for the vessels.
7. Do not abuse strong tea or coffee. These drinks settle on the walls of the vessels.
8. Well, the last, the guarantee of excellent health at any time and time, was a good mood and optimism!