Many people often get confused between a cardiologist, cardiovascular surgeon and cardiothoracic surgeon because they all deal with heart-related conditions. However, they have very different roles in treating heart problems. Let’s break it down :
1. Who is a Cardiologist? (The Heart Doctor)
A cardiologist is like your heart’s personal doctor. They check your heart’s health, diagnose problems, and treat them with medications and minor procedures (non-invasive) – they do not perform major surgeries (invasive).
What They Do:
✅ Check your heart’s health.
✅ Diagnose problems like high blood pressure, chest pain, or irregular heartbeat.
✅ Recommend lifestyle changes to keep your heart healthy.
✅ Prescribe medicines for heart problems.
✅ Perform minimally invasive procedures like stents, pacemaker, TAVI or clips
❌ Do NOT do open-heart surgery.
When to See a Cardiologist?
If you have chest pain, shortness of breath, or feel like your heart is beating funny, a cardiologist is your first stop.
2. Who is a Cardiovascular Surgeon? (The Heart Surgeon)
A cardiovascular surgeon is a specialist who performs surgeries on the heart and blood vessels. If your cardiologist finds a serious problem that medicine can’t fix, they will send you a cardiovascular surgeon for an operation.
What They Do:
✅ Perform heart bypass surgery (creating a new path for blood flow when arteries are blocked).
✅ Repair or replace damaged heart valves.
✅ Fix heart defects present from birth.
✅ Perform artery surgery to improve blood flow.
❌ Do NOT treat lung diseases or other chest conditions.
When to See a Cardiovascular Surgeon?
If your heart needs an operation, your cardiologist will refer you to a cardiovascular surgeon.
3. Who is a Cardiothoracic Surgeon? (The Heart & Lung Surgeon)
A cardiothoracic surgeon is a specialist who operates on both the heart and the lungs. They handle the same heart surgeries as a cardiovascular surgeon but also perform lung and chest surgeries.
What They Do:
✅ Perform heart surgeries (like bypass surgery and valve replacement).
✅ Operate on lungs (like removing lung tumors or treating lung diseases).
✅ Fix problems in the chest and esophagus.
✅ Perform heart transplants.
When to See a Cardiothoracic Surgeon?
If you need both heart and lung surgery, this is the doctor for you.
Your heart health is essential, and consulting a cardiologist can help you prevent, manage, and treat heart-related conditions. If you have concerns about your heart or need expert advice, don’t hesitate to reach out.
Your heart deserves the best care – schedule an appointment with our expert cardiologists today!