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Step 1
Get at least two professional opinions before making any final decisions. Open-heart surgery is a serious medical procedure, and while you don't want to waste time going from doctor to doctor, it is common practice to get a second opinion on major health issues. Talk to at least two doctors to help you assess the risks and weigh your decision for open-heart surgery.
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Step 2
Evaluate your overall health. Factors like age, physical fitness and diseases all play a role in open-heart surgery. Advanced age, poor fitness and serious medical issues can complicate open-heart surgery and make your results less effective or dangerous.
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Step 3
Make sure all pre-surgery tests and reports--typically, an electrocardiogram, echo cardiogram, cardiac catheterization, chest x-ray and blood work--are prepared before the surgery. Ask your doctors questions about the results and risk factors so that you understand what recommendation your doctor makes.
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Step 4
Research the quality of your hospital and your surgeon. Look into the possible complications for open-heart surgery generally, and compare those rates to the ones provided by your surgeon. No procedure is foolproof, but certain hospitals and surgeons are better prepared for emergencies and complications than others.
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Step 5
Weigh the risks of open-heart surgery against the risks of not having open-heart surgery. If your doctor recommends this procedure, chances are good that your heart health is in serious jeopardy, in which case the surgery might be worthwhile for you no matter what risks come with it.
