• Does open heart surgery affect your immune system?

I will have open heart surgery. Does open heart surgery affect your immune system?

4 Answers

  • Cardiothoracic Surgeon
  • Tampa, FL

The procedure is done using cardiopulmonary bypass or a beating heart.
To my understanding the immune system is not affected except in cases in which the patient has a already present a non-diagnosed pre-existing immune condition.

  • Cardiothoracic Surgeon
  • Fair Lawn, NJ

No. It doesn’t.

  • Cardiothoracic Surgeon
  • Rosedale, NY

The simple answer is NO. Good luck.

  • Cardiothoracic Surgeon
  • Iowa City, IA

Open heart surgery is a major stress for the body. So, like any other major surgical operation, definitely impacts on the immune system. Furthermore, the use of the heart lung machine (pump) caused a systemic inflammatory response that may cause further changes to the immune system response, so immunocompromised patients can be negatively affected by the consequences of a cardiac surgery operation having a potential higher risk of infection and delayed healing. On the other hand, cardiac surgeons routinely safely perform cardiac surgery operations in immunocompromised patients with astonishing outcomes.

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