Open heart surgery is any surgery where the chest is opened and surgery is performed on the heart muscle, valves, arteries, or other heart structures. The term "open" refers to the chest, not the heart itself. The heart may or may not be opened, depending on the type of surgery.

A heart-lung mahcine (also called cardiopulmonary bypass) is usually used during conventional open heart surgery. It helps provide oxygen-rich blood to the brain and other vital organs.

The definition of open heart surgery has become confusing with new procedures being performed on the heart through smaller incisions. There are some new surgical procedures being performed that are done with the heart still beating.

Minimally invasive heart surgery (MIDCAB, OPCAB, RACAB), including robotic-assisted heart surgery, is still considered open heart surgery. However, these procedures are being used in some patients as an alternative to open heart surgery requiring the heart-lung machine.

See also:

• Aortic valve surgery - minimally invasive
• Aortic valve surgery - open
• Atrial septal defect repair
• Cardiac transplant
• Coarctation of the aorta repair
• Congenital heart defect corrective surgery
• Heart bypass surgery (coronary artery bypass graft - CABG)
• Heart transplant
• Heart valve surgery
• Hypoplastic left heart repair
• Minimally invasive heart surgery (MIDCAB, OPCAB, RACAB)
• Mitral valve surgery - minimally invasive
• Mitral valve surgery - open
• Pediatric heart surgery
• Tetralogy of Fallot repair
• Total anomalous pulmonary venous return correction
• Transplant of the heart
• Transposition of great vessels repair
• Tricuspid atresia repair
• Truncus arteriosus repair
• Ventricular septal defect (VSD) repair