People who have open heart surgery have a variety of other medical concerns as well. Because the heart is a vital part of the body s complete function any treatment of the heart is bound to affect other body parts. Cardiologists and surgeons are becoming more and more aware of the issues that will face the patient undergoing surgery and look for these other complications. One such issue is the frequency of open heart surgery and depression.
Physicians and other health care professionals are not completely sure why open heart surgery and depression seem to go hand in hand. For several years the depression was misdiagnosed as a condition known as pump head. Pump head is caused by the pump that a patient is put on during surgery which can cause small particles to be circulated to the brain where they will in turn cause a small amount of brain damage. Advances in medical technology have immensely reduced the chances of pump head occurring. The problem in the past with pump head was that many of the symptoms mimicked the symptoms of depression and the physicians would fail to diagnose and treat the depression.
Now physicians do recognize that open heart surgery and depression can occur together and look for ways to address and treat the depression issue. Treating depression occurring with open heart surgery is complicated because many of the medications for depression have side effects that can cause damage to the heart. The physician will look carefully at two issues and determine the best way to manage the situation.
Information For The Patient And Family
The patient and family can be proactive in acquiring information on open heart surgery, depression, and other issues. There are several publications available that discuss all aspects of open heart surgery. For a patient who is going to undergo surgery these books will help prepare them for the event. For a patient who has undergone surgery the books can help them to understand what has happened and what the long term consequences are.
One book, Coping with Heart Surgery and Bypassing Depression: A Family s Guide to the Medical, Emotional, and Practical Issues by Carol Cohan, June B. Pimm, and James R. Jude offers a complete look at open heart surgery and depression and ways to avoid it and to treat it. This book is available in paperback and cost under thirty dollars. Many people who have read this book have found it very useful in understanding open heart surgery and depression.
Another book that has received good reviews from readers is The Cardiac Recovery Handbook: A Complete Guide to Life After Heart Attack or Heart Surgery by Paul Kligfield, MD. This book offers information about all aspects of cardiac recovery including open heart surgery and depression. This book costs fewer than twenty dollars.
There are several other books available to a patient concerned about open heart surgery and depression. These books will help a person to become knowledgeable about their situation and ways to cope and get treatment.