Cardiac surgery
| Cardiac surgery | |
|---|---|
Two cardiac surgeons performing coronary artery bypass surgery. Note the use of a steel retractor to forcefully maintain the exposure of the heart. | |
| ICD-9-CM | 35-37 |
| MeSH | D006348 |
| OPS-301 code | 5-35...5-37 |
| Cardiac surgery | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Cardiothoracic surgery |
Cardiac surgery, or cardiovascular surgery, is a surgery on the heart or great vessels performed by cardiac surgeons. It is often used to treat complications of ischemic heart disease (for example, with coronary artery bypass grafting); to correct congenital heart disease; or to treat valvular heart disease from various causes, including endocarditis, rheumatic heart disease, and atherosclerosis. It also includes heart transplantation.