Cardiac Surgeons in Delhi

When it comes to heart surgery, you want to be sure you are in the right hands. Choosing an experienced cardiac surgeon who understands your condition and explains your options clearly can make the decision easier. It also helps you know what the procedure involves and what recovery may look like.

At the CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, our aim is to help patients understand their heart condition and make informed decisions about their treatment. Consult our specialists to discuss your diagnosis, explore suitable treatment options and understand the next steps in your care.

Who is a Cardiac Surgeon?

A cardiac surgeon is a medical specialist trained to perform surgery on the heart and certain major blood vessels connected to it. These specialists treat conditions that may require surgical intervention, such as blocked coronary arteries, damaged heart valves and some congenital heart defects. They are also commonly referred to as heart surgeons or heart surgery specialists.

A cardiac surgeon differs from a cardiologist. A cardiologist diagnoses and manages heart conditions through medication, lifestyle changes and procedures such as angioplasty. A cardiac surgeon performs operations when surgery is needed.

Conditions Treated by a Cardiac Surgeon

Your cardiologist may refer you to a cardiac surgeon when medication or other treatments are unlikely to provide sufficient benefit, or when surgery offers a better option for your condition.

Cardiac surgeons treat several conditions affecting the heart and major blood vessels. The recommended treatment depends on the severity of the disease, your overall health and the findings from diagnostic tests.

• Coronary artery disease (CAD): These are severe blockages that may require angioplasty & stenting or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), which creates an alternative route for blood to reach the heart muscle.
• Heart valve disorders: A damaged valve may need repair or replacement to restore effective blood flow.
• Congenital heart defects: These are structural abnormalities present from birth that may require surgery to help blood flow properly through the heart.
• Aortic aneurysms and other aortic conditions: These cases may require surgery to repair or replace an affected section of the aorta.
• Certain heart tumours and structural abnormalities: Surgery may be considered depending on the location, size and clinical effects of the problem.

When Should You Consult a Cardiac Surgeon?

You should seek medical advice if you experience:

• frequent chest discomfort
• shortness of breath during daily activities
• unusual tiredness
• difficulty doing activities that were once easy

These symptoms can have different causes and do not always mean you need surgery. That is why, consulting a cardiac specialist instead of trying to diagnose the problem yourself can help you understand the cause and get the right treatment.

Seek emergency medical care for sudden or severe chest pain, particularly with breathlessness, sweating, faintness or pain spreading to the arm, back or jaw. Do not wait for a routine appointment.

Diagnostic Methods Used by a Heart Surgery Specialist

Before recommending a surgery, a cardiac surgeon reviews your medical history, symptoms, existing test results and overall fitness for surgery. Additional investigations may be needed to understand the condition and analyse potential risks.

Common diagnostic tests include:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG) to check the heart’s electrical activity
• Echocardiogram shows the heart’s structure, pumping function and valve movement
• Coronary angiography is done to identify narrowing or blockages in the coronary arteries
• CT scan or cardiac MRI provides detailed images of the heart, aorta and surrounding structures
• Blood tests are done to evaluate your general health and check factors such as kidney function, blood counts and clotting before surgery
• Stress testing evaluates how the heart responds to physical exertion or medication in selected patients

You may not need every diagnostic test. The tests recommended will depend on your symptoms, suspected condition and proposed treatment.

Treatments and Surgical Procedures Offered by Cardiac Surgeons

Treatment depends on your diagnosis, the severity of your condition and the potential benefits and risks of each option. Based on your medical examination, your cardiac surgeon may recommend the following treatments.

• Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) creates a new route for blood to flow around blocked or narrowed coronary arteries
• Heart valve repair or replacement involves repairing a damaged heart valve or replacing it with an artificial or biological valve
• Surgery for congenital heart defects focuses on correcting the selected structural problems present from birth
• Aortic surgery repairs or replaces affected sections of the aorta when indicated
• Minimally invasive cardiac surgery uses smaller incisions than traditional open-heart surgery and may help reduce pain and recovery time

Many heart conditions can now be treated using minimally invasive techniques, depending on the patient’s condition and the procedure required. These may include catheter-based procedures and robotic-assisted surgery, which uses specialised instruments controlled by a surgeon. These treatments are generally performed by appropriately trained interventional cardiologists or specialist teams.

Why Choose the CK Birla Hospital for Cardiology Care in Delhi?

At the CK Birla Hospital, Delhi, we focus on providing personalised cardiac care, helping patients understand their treatment options and make informed decisions with guidance from experienced specialists.

We offer:

• Experienced cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and interventional cardiologists
• Multidisciplinary team approach
• Dedicated cardiac operation theatres
• Integrated care across cardiology, ICU and critical care teams
• Minimally invasive procedures
• Structured cardiac rehabilitation programme
• Personalised pre- and post-operative care
• 24×7 emergency cardiac care for critical heart conditions