How Statins Reduce Complications
Having heart surgery can be stressful because of the risk of complications. However, there is a way to reduce heart surgery complications: statins. Statins can lower your cholesterol and also have anti-inflammatory properties. Statins are effective in reducing cardiac complications like atrial fibrillation and can also reduce the risk of death during and after your heart surgery. You should use statins before and after your heart surgery for maximum usefulness.
Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery
With minimally invasive heart surgery, patients can now enjoy quicker and more comfortable recoveries. This type of surgery is available even to patients who have been diagnosed as inoperable or high-risk, though it is still a good idea to take statins before and after your surgery. This type of surgery involves a surgical incision through a thin muscle layer between the ribs. There is no need to cut through any bone as there would be with traditional heart surgery. Though complications with this kind of surgery are rare, they can include bleeding, stroke, or wound infection. However, taking statins should lower the risk of these complications even further and help you be back on your feet within a few days.
Statins
In addition to reducing the risk of heart complications after surgery, statins also have other benefits. Statins can help prevent chest pain, heart attacks, strokes, and intermittent claudication. Some examples of statins include atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol, Lescol XL), lovastatin (Mevacor, Altoprev), pravastatin (Pravachol), rosuvastatin (Crestor), simvastatin (Zocor), and pitavastatin (Livalo).
Dr. Chiuffo and the Minimally Invasive and Bloodless Heart Surgery Program
Dr. Chiuffo is dedicated to ensuring your heart surgery is successful and that you have a low recovery time. If you have any questions about minimally invasive heart surgery or how statin helps reduce your risk of heart surgery complications, feel free to contact us at (330) 588-4676 or visit our contact page online.
