Best Cardiac Surgery Hospital in Delhi NCR, India

Services

Our cardiac surgeons are skilled, compassionate, and internationally renowned as leaders of their field. Experience and the outcome matter while choosing a hospital for your heart surgery. Fortis Escorts heart surgeons have vast experience and expertise in all areas of heart surgery including:

The Fortis Escorts Heart Institute performs the most number of coronary artery bypass operations in India, with a success rate of over 99%. Even complex operations, such as second and third bypass operations and aortic and great vessel surgery, are routinely performed at Fortis Escorts with excellent results.

Patient-centered care

We strive to provide each patient and family member with education, support and world-class medical care extending from his first visit until discharge. We are also proud to provide personal services (including a free "concierge" service for out-of-state patients) that put the comfort and well-being of cardiac surgery patients before all other considerations.

Superior Outcomes

Every year, the heart surgeons at Fortis Escorts Heart Institute achieve outstanding surgical outcomes even for the most complex, difficult cases. The Fortis Escorts model emphasizes an integrated, team approach to provide the best care for each patient.

Latest Development

Fortis Escorts heart surgeons are on the cutting-edge of new, advanced treatment options that were once considered inconceivable, such as minimally invasive cardiac surgery, "off-pump" bypass surgery.

Philosophy

In addition to offering ground-breaking technology, our surgical program provides patients with the advantage of an on-site multi-disciplinary team of anesthesiologists, intensivists, cardiologists, electrophysiologists, interventional radiologists, vascular surgeons, advanced practice nurses, nurse practitioners, dietitians, physical therapists, and social workers.

This team often expands to include immediate care from on-site physicians from every medical specialty required. Our multi-disciplinary approach and expertise has gained us the reputation of being the best-prepared surgical practice to handle procedures that may be complex and/or complicated by underlying illness or age.

Our large volume, consisting of many complex and complicated procedures in all areas, including pediatric and aortic cardiac procedures, assures patients that they are receiving the best care possible from some of the most experienced and expertly skilled surgeons in the world.

FAQ's after Coronary Bypass Surgery

Note: Remember each patient's recovery will be different. Keep in contact with your doctors and don't be afraid to ask questions. Here are a few of the most common questions we get from patients and some common answers. Your situation may be different and you should not rely on these questions and answers to be relevant to your individual case. Always stay in consult with your chosen doctor.

When and with whom to make a follow up appointment?

Loosing your appetite after surgery is very normal. Once you are more physically active your appetite will begin to return. Eating several small meals several times a day (even when you're not hungry) will help this.

Depression is also normal following a large and invasive surgery such as coronary artery bypass. Getting outside in the sun and keeping in contact with friends and family members will be your best medicine. You will require help right after surgery. Get out of bed every morning and get yourself dressed. This will take a lot of effort at first but will help with your mind-set in the long run. Talking to friends and family about your surgery and regular daily news items will help you and your loved ones feel better about your recovery.

When can I return to work?

Depending upon what type of work you do, most patients are able to return to work 6 to 8 weeks after their surgery. You will not be able to lift anything over 5 pounds for at least 2 months to allow time for your sternum to heal properly.

When can I begin driving?

Typically after bypass surgery you can begin driving 6 to 8 weeks after your surgery. You will be told at your follow-up visit (2 weeks after you are discharged from the hospital) if there are any changes to this estimated time frame.

What about lifting?

After bypass surgery you should not lift anything over 5 pounds for at least 8 weeks after the surgery. This is to allow your sternum time to heal. Once that time has passed, gradually work up to lifting heavier items. This goes for swinging a golf club as well! The bone needs time to heal before you begin twisting and lifting heavy objects.

When can I resume sexual activity?

All heart patients have concerns about resuming sexual activity. As a general rule, once you can climb two flights of stairs without any problems you can make love. However, don't expect too much too fast. It will take time to get back to your "before heart surgery" routine. Avoid drinking alcohol if possible. Alcohol is a depressant and might make your heart work harder. If you are nervous, foreplay is advised to gradually increase your heart rate. Should you fell any chest discomfort, irregular heartbeats or shortness of breath (that does not return to normal shortly afterward) consult your cardiologist.

What type of diet should I be eating?

Selecting heart healthy foods is always advised. Try to eat less fat, cholesterol and salt. Eating more whole grain breads and beans is good. Skim milk or 1% is better than whole milk or even 2%. When eating chicken, remove the skin before cooking and try to choose white meat rather than dark meat. Try sherbert instead of ice cream. Use egg whites instead of whole eggs or even try egg substitutes as an alternative. Snack smart; pretzels, low fat crackers, raw vegetables and fruit are great snacks. When shopping for groceries, try to plan your meals and snacks so you are not tempted to purchase all the delicious junk food you are used to.

Don't get discouraged if you can't make drastic changes to your diet all at once. It will take time to get into new eating habits. Keep an eye on your cholesterol you may need to be on a cholesterol lowering medication. Consult your cardiologist if you have any doubts.

When can I exercise?

Walking is a great exercise. You should begin walking before you leave the hospital. Work up to walking around the block within a few weeks of being discharged. Start walking around inside your house several time a day. Then walk outside with your spouse a few houses down and back. Once you feel comfortable walking to the end of the block and back try around the block. Speed will come with time. Use your best judgment and pace yourself stop and rest when you feel it is necessary. Don't expect a marathon to occur all in one day! Remember walking is not only beneficial to your heart. If the weather is inclement or your neighborhood streets and sidewalks are uneven, walking in an indoor shopping mall is great. You can meet other walkers over time and form great friendships!

FAQ's after Mitral Valve Surgery

Who performs the Mitral Valve Surgery?

A cardiac or cardiothoracic surgeon does Mitral Valve surgery. It is not easy to perform the procedure without the proper tools and facility. Any experienced cardiac surgeon should be able to perform the surgery ensuring good outcome.

What is the difference between a cardiologist and a cardio-thoracic surgeon? Who usually performs an angiogram procedure?

Cardiologists are physicians who specialize in diagnosing and treating heart diseases. A cardiac surgeon does heart surgeries. A thoracic surgeon does surgery of the chest, other than the heart. These two are separate specialties. A cardiothoracic surgeon can do both the heart and chest surgeries.

Why should I take antibiotics before dental or surgical procedures after mitral valve replacement?

During dental or surgical procedures there is a risk of infection. Bacteria can enter the blood stream and infect the tissues surrounding the valve. Infection of the valves is called "Infective Endocarditis". This is a serious condition that can be prevented by simply taking the prescribed antibiotics before the procedure.

When will I need a reoperation?

During your regular follow-ups, echocardiograms will be done to assess your prosthetic valve function. Mechanical valves lasts a lifetime and it is highly unlikely that you will need a re-operation in this case. Tissue valves lasts up to 15 years. Here, there is a chance that your valve is worn out and you need a different one. Before your first mitral valve replacement, your surgeon will discuss about the choices of prosthetic valves. He will also take into account your age, type of disease, your other health conditions, etc. to make a decision about the suitable valve for you.

Even after 10 years 95% of the patients do not require a redo operation.

Rarely a valve failure can occur, causing sudden symptoms like increased shortness of breath even at rest or fluid accumulation in your hands and feet. This requires immediate medication and probably an immediate surgery to replace the valve. Another uncommon reason for replacing the artificial mitral valve is Infective endocarditis. This is due to infection of the tissues surrounding the prosthetic valve.

What are the side effects of anti-coagulants?

Before someone starts on anticoagulants, a physician should cross check the list of medications, including "over the counter" pills. Pregnant women should not take them as they can cause side effects in the babies. During breast-feeding, some of these medications can cause unwanted effects to the baby. Warfarin is not known to cause any problems.

The most common side effect that is associated with the anti-coagulants is bleeding. Any unusual bleeding or bruising should be notified to the doctor immediately. Any falls or injuries should be promptly checked to rule out internal bleeding. Gum bleeding, black stools, eye bleeding, nose bleeding, red spots on the skin, heavy oozing of blood from minor cuts, confusion, constipation, diarrhea, joint swelling, blood in urine or vomit, nausea, weakness, etc can be due to too much thinning of blood. Some of the less common side effects are rashes, itching, low back pain, cough, blue toes, dark urine, stomach cramps, bloating etc.

What should be my INR value if on these drugs?

A normal INR value for someone who is not on anticoagulants will be approximately between 0.8 and 1.2. INR increases when the blood becomes thinner. There is a therapeutic range of INR, which is mostly the target range for all patients. It is most likely between 2.0 3.0. Very rarely will the target range be more than 3.0. Desired value can also vary depending on the patients' diseases and conditions. This can happen if the patient experiences a second clot formation even when he/she is on blood thinners. INR values also determine the dosage of the anticoagulants.