The prospect of open-heart surgery can feel overwhelming. Patients come to us at Kolkata Heart Foundation carrying fear alongside their diagnosis. Our goal — before any scalpel is considered — is to ensure you understand every option, every risk, and every reason for optimism.

Cardiac surgery has transformed enormously over the last two decades. Many procedures that once required prolonged hospital stays are now performed through minimally invasive approaches, with patients returning home in three to four days.

The most common cardiac operations

At KHF, the three most frequent procedures our surgical team performs are coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), valve repair or replacement, and surgery for congenital heart defects. Each serves a different purpose, but all share one aim: to restore the heart’s ability to do its job.

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)

When one or more coronary arteries are severely blocked and cannot be adequately treated with stenting, CABG creates a new route for blood to reach the heart muscle. A healthy blood vessel — usually taken from the leg or the chest wall — is used as a “graft” to bypass the blockage. Most patients feel dramatically better within weeks as the heart receives the blood supply it has been starved of.

Valve repair and replacement

The heart’s four valves are precision structures that open and close roughly 100,000 times a day. When a valve becomes narrowed (stenosis) or leaky (regurgitation), the heart works harder and eventually begins to fail. Modern valve surgery can repair the native valve wherever possible — a superior outcome to replacement — or implant a highly durable prosthetic when needed.

Transcatheter procedures: surgery without a large incision

TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) has revolutionised the treatment of aortic stenosis in high-risk patients. A new valve is delivered through a catheter inserted at the groin — no open chest required. KHF’s structural heart team performs TAVI with outcomes comparable to the best centres in the country.

The road to recovery

Recovery from cardiac surgery is a structured process, not a passive one. Patients at KHF are enrolled in our post-operative cardiac rehabilitation programme from the day of discharge. Supervised exercise, wound care, medication management, and dietary guidance all form part of a plan designed around your specific needs — and your goals for the life ahead.

• Sternal precautions: avoid lifting more than 2–3 kg for the first 6 weeks after open surgery
• Attend all follow-up appointments; the first echo after surgery is typically at 6 weeks
• Report any fever, increased wound redness, or chest pain immediately
• Driving is usually permitted after 6–8 weeks once cleared by your surgeon