Open heart surgery is any surgery where the chest is opened and surgery is performed on the heart. The term "open" refers to the chest, not the heart itself. The heart may or may not be opened, depending on the type of surgery.

The definition of open heart surgery becomes confusing in light of new procedures being performed on the heart through smaller incisions. There are some new surgical procedures being performed that are done with the heart still beating.

Minimally invasive heart surgery (MIDCAB, OPCAB, RACAB), including robotic-assisted heart surgery, is still considered open heart surgery. However, these procedures are being used in some patients as an alternative to open heart surgery requiring the heart-lung machine.

See also:

• Angioplasty of the heart
• Atrial septal defect repair
• Cardiac transplant
• Coarctation of the aorta repair
• Congenital heart defect corrective surgery
• Heart bypass surgery (coronary artery bypass graft - CABG)
• Heart transplant
• Heart valve prosthesis
• Heart valve surgery
• Heart-and-lung transplant
• Hypoplastic left heart repair
• Minimally invasive heart surgery (MIDCAB, OPCAB, RACAB)
• Patent ductus arteriosus ligation
• PDA ligation
• Prosthetic heart valves
• Tetralogy of Fallot repair
• Total anomalous pulmonary venous return correction
• Transplant of the heart
• Transplant of the heart and lungs
• Transposition of great vessels repair
• Tricuspid atresia repair
• Truncus arteriosus repair
• Valve replacement
• Ventricular septal defect (VSD) repair

Open heart surgery includes surgery on the heart muscle, valves, arteries, or other structures.

A heart-lung machine (also called cardiopulmonary bypass) is usually used during conventional open heart surgery. It helps provide oxygen-rich blood to the brain and other vital organs. The machine also:

• Provides anesthesia to keep the patient asleep during surgery
• Pumps
• Removes carbon dioxide from the blood
• Supplies oxygen