What is it?
A cardiac surgeon, also known as a cardiovascular surgeon or heart surgeon, performs surgical procedures that involve the heart or blood vessels that carry blood to and from the heart.
What conditions does it cover?
The most common conditions our experts are called upon to provide an opinion on are:
- Coronary artery disease
- Aortic valve disease
- Mitral and tricuspid valve disease
- Diseases of the aorta
- Surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation
- Sternotomy (the procedure to cut through the sternum to gain access to the heart or nearby organs and blood vessels)
- Thoracotomy (surgical procedure to gain access to the pleural space of the chest)
-
Featured article
The medicolegal challenges of coronary artery bypass grafts
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), which is also known as heart bypass surgery, involves taking a blood vessel from another part of the body, usually the chest, leg or arm, and attaching it above and below the damaged area of the coronary artery.
