cardiovascular - أمراض القلب والأوعية الدموية

Cardiovascular Services

Healing hearts, saving lives.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a general term for conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels.
It’s usually associated with a build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries (atherosclerosis) and an increased risk of blood clots.
It can also be associated with damage to arteries in organs such as the brain, heart, kidneys and eyes.
CVD is one of the main causes of death and disability in the UK, but it can often largely be prevented by leading a healthy lifestyle.

Cardiac Ablation

The procedure is employed to address heart rhythm irregularities, also known as arrhythmias. Cardiac ablation utilizes either heat or cold energy to form small scars in the heart, disrupting irregular electrical signals and restoring a normal heartbeat.

Cardiac ablation

Mechanism:

Cardiac ablation involves the use of heat or cold energy to create minute scars in the heart, disrupting irregular electrical signals and restoring a normal heartbeat. Typically conducted through catheters, thin and flexible tubes, inserted via veins or arteries, this procedure locates the problematic area causing abnormal heart rhythm.
Electrodes at the catheters’ ends stimulate the heart, and radiofrequency heat energy is used to ablate the small problem area, usually about one-fifth of an inch in size. Alternative ablation techniques, such as cryoablation employing extremely cold temperatures, may also be utilized based on the patient’s condition. Once the tissue is ablated, the abnormal electrical signals causing the arrhythmia can no longer propagate through the heart.

Success Rate:

The success rate of catheter ablation, depending on the arrhythmia type, can exceed 90 percent. However, some individuals might require additional procedures or alternative treatments for heart arrhythmias.

Recovery Time:

While recovery from the catheter ablation procedure itself is generally straightforward, the ablated tissue within the heart may take up to eight weeks to heal. Post-procedure, mild symptoms like chest discomfort, bruising at the catheter insertion site, or irregular heart rhythms may be experienced. Anti-arrhythmic medications or other treatments might be prescribed by the doctor. Most individuals can resume normal activities within a few days.

Angioplasty

Angioplasty is a medical procedure employed to open blocked coronary arteries resulting from coronary artery disease, aiming to restore blood flow to the heart muscle without the need for open-heart surgery. Another term for angioplasty is percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Angioplasty

Procedure:

Angioplasty can be performed as elective surgery based on strong suspicions of heart disease by the healthcare provider or in emergency situations such as a heart attack. In this procedure, a slender, elongated tube known as a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel and guided to the blocked coronary artery.

The catheter is equipped with a small balloon at its tip, which is inflated at the narrowed section of the heart artery. This inflation compresses the plaque or blood clot against the artery walls, creating more space for blood flow. In the majority of angioplasty procedures, coronary stents are utilized. These stents are minute, expandable metal mesh coils placed in the newly opened artery section to prevent narrowing or closure. Following stent placement, tissue gradually coats the stent resembling a layer of skin.

Success Rate:

The success rate of angioplasty typically ranges between 90-95%, subject to the extent and complexity of artery blockages. Most patients report significant clinical improvement, with reduced pain and enhanced wound healing in the affected area.

Recovery Time:

Post-procedure, patients may spend time in the recovery room for observation before being returned to their hospital room. Remaining flat in bed for several hours is advised. A nurse monitors vital signs, the insertion site, and circulation and sensation in the affected limb. Discharge usually occurs within 24-48 hours after the procedure. The recovery period is approximately two weeks, with the possibility of returning to work after one week, although individual conditions may influence this timeframe.

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), also referred to as “open-heart surgery,” is a medical procedure utilized to address coronary artery disease (CAD), characterized by the narrowing of coronary arteries due to the accumulation of fatty material within their walls.
This build-up restricts the arterial passageway, limiting the delivery of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. CABG provides a solution by creating a bypass, redirecting blood flow around the obstructed section of the coronary artery using a segment of a healthy blood vessel from another part of the body, known as the graft.

Coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Procedure:

The surgeon connects one end of the graft above the blockage and the other end below it. Blood is then rerouted through the new graft, effectively bypassing the blockage and ensuring a restored blood flow to the heart muscle.

Success Rate:

CABG, by reinstating blood circulation to the heart, alleviates symptoms and has the potential to prevent heart attacks. With approximately half a million coronary bypass surgeries performed annually, the procedure boasts an overall success rate nearing 98 percent.

Recovery Time:

Recovery from a coronary artery bypass graft surgery is a gradual process, varying among individuals. Typically, patients can sit in a chair after one day, walk after three days, and navigate stairs after five or six days. Most individuals achieve full recovery within 12 weeks post-operation.

Aortic aneurism surgery

An aortic aneurysm refers to a dilation in the aorta, the primary blood vessel responsible for carrying blood from the heart to the body. Continuous pressure from blood flow against weakened aortic walls can lead to swelling and the formation of a balloon-like bulge known as an aneurysm. While smaller aneurysms can often be managed with medication, larger ones may necessitate surgical intervention.

Procedure:

Aneurysms can occur in various parts of the body, including blood vessels in the brain, aorta, neck, intestines, kidney, spleen, and leg vessels. Due to potential expansion and progressive weakening of the artery wall, surgical treatment may be required to prevent rupture, a critical goal of therapy. The risk of rupture increases as the aneurysm grows larger, potentially leading to life-threatening hemorrhage and, in severe cases, death.

Treatment Options:

Treatment strategies for an aneurysm may involve controlling or modifying risk factors, medication, or surgery. Two types of surgeries are commonly performed: aneurysm open repair and endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR).

  1. Aneurysm Open Repair:

This involves making an incision to directly visualize and repair the aneurysm. A cylindrical tube called a graft may be employed to mend the aneurysm, sewing it to the affected blood vessel and connecting the artery ends at the aneurysm site.

2. Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR): EVAR is a minimally invasive procedure requiring small groin incisions. A stent-graft is inserted through the femoral artery, advanced into the aorta, and positioned at the aneurysm site. The stent supports the graft, keeping it open and secure.

Success Rate:

Surgical procedures for abdominal aortic aneurysm repair exhibit a high success rate, with over 95 percent of patients achieving full recovery.

Recovery Time:

Patients may resume many routine activities after 4 to 6 weeks, but complete recovery typically takes 2 to 3 months.

Heart valve replacement surgery

The heart, comprised of muscle tissue, functions as a pump with chambers and valves facilitating the forward flow of blood. Dysfunction in heart valves, often caused by conditions such as valve stenosis (stiffness) or valve regurgitation (leaky valve), may necessitate repair or replacement of the affected valves.

Procedure:

Heart valve repair involves the utilization of a supportive ring for the damaged valve, while valve replacement entails the removal of the diseased valve, replaced by an artificial one. Hospitalization is required for heart valve repair or replacement surgery. Depending on the valve problem, repair procedures may include separating fused valve leaflets, repairing torn leaflets, or reshaping valve components to enhance functionality.

Success Rate:

Advancements in medical technology and surgical expertise have led to a high success rate for heart valve replacement operations, with some heart care facilities suggesting success rates ranging from 94% to 97%.

Recovery Time:

Typically, individuals recovering from valve surgery require 4 to 8 weeks. Minimally invasive surgery may result in a faster recovery. Detailed instructions on exercises, medications, wound care, and resuming normal activities are provided before discharge from the hospital.

Heart transplant

A cardiac transplant, commonly known as a heart transplant, is a surgical procedure conducted on individuals experiencing end-stage heart failure or severe coronary artery disease when conventional medical or surgical interventions prove ineffective.

Heart transplant

Procedure:

In a heart transplant, the surgeon extracts the diseased heart from the patient and replaces it entirely with a healthy heart obtained from a donor.

Success Rate:

The global survival rate for heart transplants exceeds 85% after one year and remains at 69% after five years for adults. This success rate is remarkable when compared to the natural progression of end-stage heart failure. The first year post-surgery holds particular significance for heart transplant survival.

Recovery Time:

Hospitalization following heart transplant surgery typically lasts 7 to 14 days, or possibly longer. Incisions may take around six to eight weeks to heal, allowing for a gradual return to regular activities after approximately three months. Full recovery from heart transplant surgery generally spans three to six months, with variations based on age and pre-existing medical conditions potentially extending the recovery period.

Heart pacemaker surgery

The insertion of a pacemaker involves implanting a small electronic device, typically positioned below the collarbone in the chest, to assist in regulating slow electrical issues within the heart. This procedure may be recommended to prevent the heartbeat from slowing to a dangerously low rate.

Heart pacemaker surgery

Function:

Comprising a pulse generator, one or more leads, and an electrode on each lead, a pacemaker acts by signaling the heart to beat when the heartbeat becomes excessively slow or irregular. When the heart’s rate falls below the programmed limit, the pacemaker sends an electrical impulse through the lead to the electrode, prompting the heart to beat at a faster rate. Conversely, if the heart beats faster than the programmed limit, the pacemaker monitors the heart rate and refrains from pacing.

Procedure Success:

Pacemaker implantations exhibit an exceptionally high success rate, surpassing 99 percent.

Recovery Period:

The pacemaker procedure can be conducted on an outpatient basis or as part of a hospital stay. After the insertion, individuals typically resume their daily activities within a few days. Complete recovery may span from a few days to a few months, with most people being able to return to their normal routine after approximately four weeks.

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