open-heart surgery

American  

[oh-puhn-hahrt] / ˈoʊ pənˈhɑrt /

noun

1. surgery performed on the exposed heart while a heart-lung machine pumps and oxygenates the blood and diverts it from the heart.

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open-heart surgery British  

noun

1. surgical repair of the heart during which the blood circulation is often maintained mechanically

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open-heart surgery Scientific  

1. Surgery in which the thoracic cavity is opened to expose the heart and the blood is recirculated and oxygenated by a heart-lung machine.

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Etymology

Origin of open-heart surgery

First recorded in 1975–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

open-heart surgery

Suzanne Thoma, a business executive who grew up locally, said a population cap would be like performing open-heart surgery on the export-oriented Swiss economy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026

Both address bad valves without open-heart surgery, typically by going in through the femoral artery in the groin.

From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026

He also behaved this way after my mother’s open-heart surgery, when we attempted to prepare her home for her return from the hospital, even though he had initially agreed with the plan.

From MarketWatch ● Dec. 30, 2025

Deemed not suitable for open-heart surgery, Mrs Readhead was keen to take up the option of the less-invasive procedure.

From BBC ● Jun. 4, 2025

It’s all right there, splayed out like an open-heart surgery.

From "Dumplin'" by Julie Murphy