Cardiac surgery

The cardiac surgery is an independent since 1993 specialty that has evolved from general surgery, specializing in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, develops and dealing with the surgical treatment of congenital and acquired diseases and injuries of the heart and heart vessels close. There is thus a cardiology and vascular surgery a related subject.

The image of the heart surgeons in public is mainly determined by cardiac transplantation. However, the most common surgeries are the conditioning of coronary artery bypass graft ( CABG) surgery and procedures on the heart valves.

The specialist in cardiac surgery

In order for a completed medical studies in Germany to act as a specialist in cardiac surgery, it requires a six-year training period. Then creditable are:

• 2 years surgery or
• 1 years anesthesiology or internal medicine or pediatrics, Division of Cardiology and Pediatric Cardiology or
• 1/2 year anatomy or pathology

1/2 year must be completed in the non- specific cardiac surgical intensive care.

Statistics

In 2004, in Germany in 78 cardiac surgical clinics total of 96 340 cardiac operations performed using the heart -lung machine, corresponding to 1,168 operations per 1 million inhabitants.

In 2004, 565 physicians in activity with the area designation cardiac surgery and 95 registered with the heavy punk label Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the German Medical Association.