Heart disease cases are on the rise in Malaysia due to sedentary lifestyle, poor dietary habits, heavy smoking as well as pre-existing medical condition especially diabetes. Most patients develop coronary artery issues in their mid-forties.

Cardiothoracic surgery combines the diligence and meticulous approach to both diagnosis and treatment. This procedure involves the surgical treatment of diseases affecting organs within the thorax (chest) where surgeons generally treat diseases and other conditions related to the heart and lungs. Cardiothoracic surgery also includes but not limited to operations such as heart by-pass and open-heart surgeries.

Pantai Hospitals in Malaysia are equipped with state-of-the-art equipment combined with a multidisciplinary team of cardiothoracic surgeons, cardiologists, nurses, and aftercare specialists to deliver quality medical care to patients.

What cardiothoracic conditions do surgeons treat?

Cardiothoracic surgeons treat the following conditions:

• Aortic transaction due to trauma or accident
• Atrial fibrillation
• Congestive heart failure (heart attack)
• Esophageal cancer
• Left ventricular aneurysm
• Lung cancers
• Mediastinal tumours
• Thoracic aortic aneurysm
• Tracheal stenosis
• Valvular insufficiency
• Valvular stenosis

What are the screening options available for cardiothoracic conditions?

Cardiothoracic conditions are related to the heart and lungs. Hence, various tests are used to screen for the heart and lungs of the patient. These include:

What do cardiothoracic surgeries and procedures include?

Cardiothoracic surgeries and procedures include:

• Coronary artery bypass grafting including total arterial revascularisation, beating heart surgery and endoscopic vessel harvesting
• Heart valve repairs and replacement
• Carotid surgery to remove plaque from carotid arteries
• Repair of congenital heart defects in children and adults
• Surgery for cardiac tumours
• Surgery for disease of the pericardium – pericardiectomy, drainage, pericardial window, excision of pericardial cysts and tumours
• Lung surgery – video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), bronchoscopy, lobectomy, pneumonectomy, tumours, lung abscess, and lung biopsy
• Surgery for pleural disease - decortication, biopsy
• Surgery for mediastinal disease - mediastinoscopy, excision of mediastinal tumours, thymectomy, retrosternal goitre
• Minimally invasive sympathectomy
• Chest wall reconstruction surgery

What are the risks of cardiothoracic surgery?

All surgeries come with risks. Here are a few that you should be aware of:

• Infection or bleeding at the surgery site
• Blood clots
• Stroke and seizures, although this is rare
• Heart attack
• Reaction to anaesthesia used for the surgery
• Injury to oesophagus, trachea, or nerves
• Surgical mortality

Cardiothoracic surgery at Pantai Hospitals

Although there are risks being taken into consideration, the benefits usually outweigh the risks. Cardiothoracic surgery can save individuals from life-threatening situations as it helps open up arteries that are blocked, repair weak heart muscles, and correct heart rhythm issues.

In fact, cardiothoracic surgery is the one of the most common surgeries being done all over the world. In Malaysia, more than 7000 cardiac surgeries are performed every year.

Pantai Hospitals in Malaysia are equipped with state-of-the-art facilities to cater to the need of heart surgeries. A multidisciplinary team of well-trained surgeons and related medical professionals aim to provide quality pre- and post-surgery care for patients.