Cardiovascular Surgery

Our cardiovascular surgeons operate on the heart and the large vessels that carry blood to and from it, including coronary artery bypass grafting and heart valve repair or replacement. Working alongside our cardiologists and imaging teams, we care for people with complex conditions of the heart and its major vessels at our hospitals across the UAE.

What is cardiovascular surgery?

Cardiovascular surgery treats the heart and the large vessels around it, mainly the aorta. Surgeons operate on problems such as blocked heart arteries, narrowed or leaking valves and ballooning or tearing of the aorta, and they share the long-term follow-up that heart conditions need. Cardiologists treat many of the same conditions with medicines and catheter procedures instead of open surgery, while vascular surgeons deal with vessels elsewhere in the body, such as the legs and neck.

Who is referred to a cardiovascular surgeon?

You may be referred to a cardiovascular surgeon if you have:

• Coronary artery disease that may need bypass surgery
• A heart valve that is narrowed or leaking
• An aneurysm or a tear in the aorta
• A heart problem you were born with
• A heart rhythm problem that surgery can help, such as atrial fibrillation

Cardiovascular surgeons usually become involved after a cardiologist or another doctor has diagnosed the problem and thought an operation might help. You'll normally reach one through this kind of referral rather than by booking directly. Some people are sent simply for an opinion on whether surgery is needed at all. Your surgeon reviews your scans and test results, confirms whether an operation is the right step, and explains what it would involve before anything is decided.

What to expect

At your first appointment, the surgeon goes through your history, your symptoms, and the results your cardiologist has already gathered. Most people have had a scan of the heart using sound waves (echocardiogram), and many also need a CT scan, an MRI or a coronary angiogram so the surgeon can see the heart arteries, valves and aorta clearly before making a plan.

What happens next depends on those findings. Some conditions are corrected through open surgery and a heart-lung machine supporting the circulation. Others suit keyhole or robot-assisted surgery, and some are watched with medicines and checks first. Recovery after open surgery starts in intensive care, with cardiac rehabilitation to rebuild strength. The surgeon will then talk you through the options, risks and recovery, and recommend the most appropriate treatment plan for you.

Cardiovascular surgery at Mediclinic

At our hospitals, our cardiovascular surgeons operate on the heart and its major vessels, including coronary artery bypass grafting, heart valve repair or replacement, and surgery on the aorta. Where it suits the patient, they use minimally invasive techniques, which can mean smaller cuts and a shorter recovery. They work within a heart team alongside cardiologists, imaging specialists and critical care staff, so your assessment, operation and recovery are planned together. Before any operation, your surgeon and anaesthetist check your general health so the surgery and the anaesthetic can be planned as safely as possible. Where surgery isn't the right option, the surgical and cardiology teams will discuss the alternatives with you and recommend the most appropriate treatment.