What are the Chances of Survival After Cardiac Surgery if I have Diabetes ?

by Rahul Tyagi Team Leader

The chances of survival after a cardiac surgery in case of diabetic patients are quiet high provided they opt for a minimally invasive procedure and are give a green signal by their doctor to go for the surgery. However certain tests and screenings may be conducted to ensure that there is no complication during or after the surgery. Minimally invasive surgical processes are carried out by making very small incisions and help in preventing unnecessary blood loss. The healing process is also very quick and the fishing can be discharged within a day or two.

Diabetes is a medical problem associated with the pancreas which is a part of the endocrine system. It is caused when the pancreas of a person are unable to produce enough insulin which in turn leads to rise in the sugar levels of the body. The problem cannot be eliminated completely and remains with the person throughout his life. However the sugar levels of the body can be controlled by the use of artificially produced insulin that needs to be injected inside the patient's body on daily basis.

Cardiac surgery on the other hand is performed to treat various problems related to the heart, valves and arteries. It was found that many patients opting for cardiac surgery in India were also found to be diabetic. The reason behind this is that diabetic people are more vulnerable to develop cardiovascular problems as compared to normal people.

Cardiovascular problems can be caused by a variety different reasons. Some of these are congenitali.e defects that are present since the birth and may be passed down from the mother to the child. These include hole in the heart or pulmonary stenosis. Some cardiovascular problems are acquired later in life due to unhealthy lifestyle practices and consumption of junk and fast food. Excessive smoking, stress and use of drugs may also act as a triggering factor for various cardiovascular diseases. The main symptoms of heart disorder includes shortness of breath especially while exercising, dizziness, nausea, chest pain. Other symptoms that indicate heart diseases are numbness in legs and arms, pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen and back. In many cases it is indicated by a heart attack or even stroke. Since the symptoms of cardiovascular diseases are very subtle hence proper care and precaution should be taken. In case of any of the symptoms, immediate medical help should be sought and treatment should be started. Although many heart diseases may be treated by taking medicines like aspirin and other blood thinners which also prove to be beneficial for diabetic patients, but in more severe cases surgery or even a transplant may be needed depending on how the condition of the heart is. Diabetes can however lead to a number complications during the surgery hence a lot of precaution and care needs to be taken while dealing with a diabetic patient opting for a cardiovascular surgery. Though the survival rate is not compromised in case of the diabetic patients however the complications specially neurological complications were increased when compared to that of a normal patient suffering from cardiovascular diseases. In case of diabetes the patient should consult a cardiologist and an endocrinologist before opting for any kind of surgery to know the pros and cons of the surgical procedure.