Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (CTVS) at CritiCare Asia Hospitals, Kurla
The heart, lungs, and major blood vessels sit close together in the chest, and a problem in one often puts strain on the others. Cardio-thoracic surgery treats these structures when medicines and non-surgical procedures are no longer enough. As a heart hospital in Mumbai, CritiCare Asia Hospitals plans every operation around the patient's own scans, test results and general health. Pre-operative checks, post-operative monitoring and rehabilitation are handled as one continuous process. Our team offers cardiothoracic surgery in Kurla for coronary, valve, aortic and lung conditions, using open and minimally invasive approaches as the case requires.
What Is Cardio-Thoracic Surgery?
Cardio-thoracic surgery treats structural and functional problems of the coronary arteries, heart valves, aorta, lungs and chest wall. It is usually considered when medication and non-surgical procedures can no longer control symptoms or stop the disease from advancing. The decision is never automatic. Surgeons weigh how the condition is likely to progress against the risks of the operation itself. Patients looking for a cardiothoracic surgeon in Kurla can expect that reasoning to be explained in plain terms before any plan is agreed.
Signs That May Point Towards Surgery
Heart and lung conditions often announce themselves in small ways first. These are some of the symptoms that lead patients to seek a surgical opinion:
Chest pain or pressure: especially when it appears with exertion and eases with rest
Breathlessness: climbing a few stairs becomes harder than it used to be
Fainting or dizziness: sometimes linked to a narrowed valve or a rhythm problem
Swelling in the legs and ankles: fluid building up as the heart struggles to pump
Persistent cough or chest discomfort: where a lung or chest wall growth is suspected
Some situations cannot wait. A heart attack, an aortic dissection, or injury to a major vessel needs surgery urgently. Others, such as valve disease or coronary blockages found on a routine check, are planned once the patient's condition and fitness allow. Our heart surgery in Kurla services cover both emergency and scheduled cases.
Before Surgery
Preparation goes well beyond a quick check-up. Blood tests, imaging of the heart and lungs, and an anaesthesia fitness review help the team spot anything that could complicate the operation. Patients are told what their surgery involves, what recovery usually looks like and what to do in the days before, including any changes to medicines and fasting instructions.
On the Day of Surgery
Surgery takes place under general anaesthesia. In some heart procedures, a heart-lung machine temporarily takes over circulation so the surgeon can work on a still heart. This is called on-pump surgery. In selected cases, the surgeon operates on a beating heart without the machine, which is known as off-pump surgery. The choice depends on the procedure and the patient's clinical profile, and the length of the operation varies with its complexity.
Recovery and Rehabilitation
After the operation, patients move to an intensive care or high-dependency unit for close monitoring. The focus there is stabilising vital functions, controlling pain and supporting breathing before a shift to the general ward.
Pain control: starts before discomfort builds and is adjusted as recovery progresses
Early movement: sitting up first, then short walks, as soon as it is safe, because long bed rest raises the risk of clots and chest infection
Breathing exercises and physiotherapy: aimed at keeping the lungs working well
Life After Surgery
Surgery is one part of the outcome. What happens afterwards matters just as much.
Graft and valve life: depends on the procedure and the patient, so the surgical team is the right person to ask
Medicines: people with a mechanical valve will likely need blood thinners for life, with other medicines added depending on the condition
Lifestyle: a balanced diet, regular activity and quitting smoking where relevant protect the result
Follow-up: regular reviews confirm that healing is on track and the heart or lungs are working as expected
Contact the care team promptly for fever, redness or discharge at the incision, increasing chest pain, breathlessness beyond what is expected, an irregular heartbeat or leg swelling. These can point to infection, fluid imbalance or another complication that needs timely evaluation rather than waiting and watching.
Treatment Options
The procedure is matched to the condition and the patient. The main options include:
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG)
redirects blood flow around blocked coronary arteriesValve repair or replacement
treats valves that have narrowed or started to leakAortic surgery
repairs aneurysms or dissections of the aortaLung resection
removes diseased or cancerous lung tissueChest wall and mediastinal surgery
deals with tumours or structural abnormalities in the chest cavity
Open and minimally invasive routes are both used, depending on what the condition demands.
Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (CTVS) at CritiCare Asia Hospitals, Kurla
Surgical decisions at CritiCare Asia Hospitals are made jointly by the surgical, cardiology and critical care teams rather than in isolation. This matters most when choosing the technique. On-pump, off-pump or minimally invasive is decided around the patient's anatomy, risk profile and expected recovery, not set as a default. The same coordination continues after the operation, with evaluation, monitoring and rehabilitation treated as one continuous process. To discuss your case with the surgical team, book a consultation at CritiCare Asia Hospitals, Kurla.