Q. How risky is an open heart surgery?
Doctor Answer is medically reviewed by SecondMedic medical review team.
Each year, more than 1 million people in the United States undergo open heart surgery. The mortality rate for these surgeries is about 2 percent. This means that about 2 out of every 100 patients who have open heart surgery die as a result of the surgery.
Open heart surgery is a major operation and carries with it risks such as infection, bleeding, and stroke. However, for many people, the benefits of having the surgery outweigh the risks. Open heart surgery can improve a person's quality of life by restoring blood flow to the heart muscle and preventing future health problems.