What is the Difference Between Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery?
eart health is one of the most important issues in human life. However, many people are confused about the medical fields that deal with heart diseases. Cardiology and cardiovascular surgery play an important role in the diagnosis and treatment of heart and vascular diseases. So, what are the differences between these two fields?
What is Cardiology and What Does it Deal With?
Cardiology is the medical field that studies heart and vascular diseases. Cardiologists evaluate the structure and functioning of the heart. They treat heart diseases with medication and various interventional methods. However, they do not perform surgical operations.
Cardiologists deal with diseases such as heart attack, hypertension, arrhythmias, and vascular occlusions. They also examine patients, request blood tests, and perform tests such as electrocardiography (ECG). In some cases, they perform advanced tests such as angiography or stress tests.
During treatment, lifestyle changes are recommended to patients. Medication is prescribed, and interventional procedures are performed when necessary. Cardiology treats heart diseases that do not require surgical intervention.
What is Cardiac Surgery and When is it Necessary?
Cardiac surgery provides surgical treatment for heart and vascular diseases. Surgical interventions are performed in cases where cardiologists cannot treat the condition with medication or interventional methods.
Cardiac surgeons operate on problems related to heart valves, heart defects, and vascular blockages. In addition, coronary bypass surgery, heart valve surgery, and surgical treatment of congenital heart disorders fall within the scope of this branch.
Some patients may require surgical intervention while being monitored by a cardiologist. In such cases, the patient is referred to a cardiovascular surgeon. Furthermore, the cardiologist and cardiovascular surgeon work together to develop the most appropriate treatment plan for the patient.
Key Differences Between Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery
To better understand the differences between the two specialties, it is important to focus on the fundamental distinctions. These distinctions are as follows:
- Treatment Methods: Cardiologists administer drug therapy and perform interventional procedures. Cardiovascular surgeons, on the other hand, perform surgical operations.
- Types of Diseases: Cardiology deals with diseases such as arrhythmias and hypertension. Cardiovascular surgery treats diseases that require surgical intervention, such as valve diseases and vascular occlusions.
- Type of Intervention: Cardiologists perform interventional procedures such as angiography, balloon angioplasty, and stenting. Cardiovascular surgeons perform major surgical operations such as heart transplants.
- Areas of Expertise: Cardiologists specialize in medical treatment methods. Cardiovascular surgeons specialize in surgical techniques.
When Should You See a Cardiologist, and When Should You See a Cardiovascular Surgeon?
When symptoms of heart disease appear, the first doctor to consult is usually a cardiologist. This is because the diagnosis and initial assessment of the disease are made by cardiology specialists.
If symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, chest pain, or high blood pressure are present, a cardiologist should be consulted. The cardiologist will perform the necessary examinations and tests to determine the appropriate treatment methods.
If the disease is advanced and surgical intervention is determined to be necessary, the patient is referred to a cardiac surgeon. Conditions such as vascular blockages, heart valve problems, or congenital heart diseases require surgical treatment.
Therefore, the two branches complement each other. Cardiology and cardiovascular surgery work together to help patients achieve a healthy heart.
The Future of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery
The treatment of heart disease in the medical world is advancing every day. New drugs and technological devices are being developed in the field of cardiology. In addition, innovative methods such as robotic surgery are being applied in the field of cardiovascular surgery.
Thanks to minimally invasive surgical techniques, heart surgeries are becoming less risky. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence-supported diagnostic methods are becoming more widespread in cardiology.
In the future, the goal is to treat heart diseases more quickly and effectively. Cardiology and cardiovascular surgery continue to be one of the most dynamic fields in medicine.