8 MOST COMMON TYPES OF HEART SURGERIES IN DUBAI

Heart disease is among the leading causes of death both among men and women. According to a latest survey, cardiovascular disease accounts for more than a quarter of deaths each year in the UAE, with a rising percentage of younger victims. A report published by World Health Organization revealed around 70% of UAE’s population has either some form of cardiovascular disease or is at potential risk, even among patients as young as 25. Unfortunately, UAE’s record with cardiovascular diseases also mirrors with global statistics, responsible for 17.5 million deaths globally, with most fatalities preventable through surgery.

In efforts to facilitate patients seeking professional medical care for heart diseases and encourage the formations of cardiac surgery hospitals in Dubai, the UAE government has provided specialized zones such as ‘Dubai Healthcare City’ for the establishment of modern clinical infrastructure. The zone houses top-tier healthcare clinics providing medical consultancy, treatment and surgery services based on international standards. Here is a list of 8 most common heart surgeries performed in Dubai.

1. Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

The most common type of heart surgery, the Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) also known as ‘Bypass Surgery’ is performed by grafting a healthy artery/vein from the patient’s leg to the blocked coronary artery or diverting the internal thoracic artery to the left anterior descending branch of the left coronary artery, restoring blood flow from the blocked region.

2. Transmyocardial Laser Revascularization

Transmyocardial Laser Revascularization (TMR) is usually performed to treat angina when other treatments fail. The procedure involved a small incision in the chest exposing the heart muscle while a high-energy laser is applied to create channels inside the heart, about 1mm wide. The procedure allows the inner channels to remain open while closing the outer areas, improving blood flow and helping the heath muscle to regrow new blood vessels.

3. Heart Valve Repair or Replacement 

As an open-heart surgery, the heart is opened to remove damaged valve while replacing it with a prosthetic one. In milder cases, the valve can also be replaced through an incision near the breastbone, making the surgical procedure minimally invasive.

4. Heart Transplant 

A heart transplant is performed on patients when the condition is nearing to heart failure and other treatments and surgeries become ineffective. The procedure involves replacing the entire diseased heart muscle from the patient with a healthy heart from a deceased donor.

5. Arrhythmia Treatment 

Arrhythmia can be treated through surgery and implantation of medical devices.

• Cardioversion

A cardioversion procedure is performed by exposing the chest wall to a perfectly timed and well controlled electrical shock while the patient is in anesthesia.

• Pacemaker

A pacemaker is long term management electronic device surgically placed in the chest to monitor and regulate heart speed in its natural pace.

• ICD

An Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) consists of a small electronic device surgically implanted in the patient’s body to monitor heart rhythm. Unlike the pacemaker, the ICD’s job is to slow down a heart beating too fast by sending electrical shocks to restore normal heart rhythm.

• Maze Procedure

A maze procedure is required in severe cases of atrial fibrillation. As an open heart surgery, the procedure creates new pathways for electrical impulses traveling from top to the bottom of the hear, hence called “maze procedure”.

6. Aneurysm Repair 

An aneurysm repair involves replacement of a dilated part of the blood vessel caused by the weakening of artery walls and replacing it with either a graft or synthetic material.

7. Angioplasty 

An angioplasty is performed to widen narrowed or obstructed arteries/veins by passing a deflated balloon device through a guided wire into the blood vessel and inflating it to restore blood flow. A stent is also inserted to ensure the vessel does not collapse again.

8. Cardiomyoplasty 

Cadiomyoplasty takes healthy muscle from another part of the patient’s body (usually latissimus dorsi) and wrapping it around the weakened heart to provide support. A specialized device is also implanted to allow the skeletal muscle contract in its healthy pace.