Open Heart Surgery Survival Rates
I write this blog twenty months after open heart surgery. In 2005, I had a double heart valve replacement surgery via the Ross Procedure.
So you know, I am now fully recovered. I am back surfing and I just Scuba dived for the first time since my aortic and pulmonary valve replacements.
“Why I am I telling you this?”
I share this with you - the patient or caregiver - to help you understand that most patients do not die from open heart cardiac surgery. Trust me. The statistics are real.
Yes… There is some risk with open heart surgery.
However, on the whole, open heart surgery survival rates continue to improve. When I conducted my initial research for my book, The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery, the open heart surgery survival rate was 97% or 98% (depending on the reference).
You should also know that some noninvasive heart surgery procedures (including robotic heart valve repair) maintain a mortality rate close to 0.0%, according to certain heart care centers.
Yes. You read that right! Zero percent!
Plus, surgical technology and medical science is rapidly advancing. That said, survival rates for specific procedures continue to improve. Consider that in 2003, the Cleveland Clinic’s inpatient mortality rate for isolated mitral valve repair was only 0.3%.
I hope this is helping you see that most heart surgeries result in life, not in death.
If you would like to know more, please read “Dispelling The Fear Of Heart Surgery”.
I hope this helps you better understand open heart surgery survival rates!
Keep on tickin!
About The Author: Adam Pick is a double, heart valve surgery patient and author of The Patient’s Guide To Heart Valve Surgery, a unique book which integrates the clinical facts of heart valve surgery with the personal experiences of 78 former valve surgery patients. To learn more about Adam and his heart valve surgery book, click here.
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August 17th, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Hi, I am 19 and i am getting open heart for my valve. I am glad the survival rates are high. Glad your back to surfin! i ride dirtbikes and i cant wait to get surgery so i can get back on my bike and beat all the boys! also ill get to go to the gym and work out! (im also a model) i gotta be fit to be a model! haha Thanks for the encouragement
April 30th, 2008 at 4:34 am
Hi, my name is Mitchell and I wanted to thank you for writing your blog about your experience with open heart surgery. My my mother is is 55 years old and will be going in for heart valve replacement very soon and I am extremely frightened for her. Your blog has has really reassured me that this will turn out well. Thank You.
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:03 pm
I’m 18 and doing a research project on CABG and I think it is really great that you are giving hope and reassurance to all open heart surgery patients. I agree with you because I have also found that it is a very regular procedure that has been almost perfected nowadays. My aunt just underwent the surgery recently and she’s doing great too. Have fun surfing!
December 15th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Hi, my name is Fabio, I was born in Brazil and currently live in Australia. I had my surgery to correct a malfunction on my aortic valve 11 years ago, in Brazil, and still is great shape (pear shape, since I picked up a few extra kilos alomg the way..)
Anyway, there is nothing to be afraid of. The surgery has a great survival rate and there are always new techniques being tested to improve even more the prognostics.
Good luck to everyone and a Merry Christmas!
December 16th, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Your msg is positive and I’m happy for your healthy recovery. I am skeptical about your research figures however for overall valve repair/replacement. The only experience I have with this is first hand as I just lost a good friend to what was supposed to be a routine posterior valve repair. You see, what everyone must remember with any major surgery…it’s not the surgery that can necessarily be fatal, but the other complications that can arise. Stroke is definitely one of those things that can and does happen as it did with my friend. As far as his heart was concerned….you’re right - that was fine?!