Dr. E. ZigiriadisSpecialist Cardiothoracic Surgeon

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Welcome to my website!
I established this site to provide you with helpful resources and guidelines regarding all cardiothoracic surgery.
I hope the articles will give you greater insight into what to expect from me as your surgeon, as well as answer any questions that you may have.
I’m Dr. Elias Zigiriadis, a Specialist Cardiothoracic Surgeon based at the Netcare Krugersdorp Hospital and it's great to meet you!

My Specialities

  • Heart Surgery

  • Lung Surgery

  • ECMO Team

Professional Membership

  • Vice President of The Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons in South Africa

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Resources & Guidelines

  • Post 2

    Open Heart Surgery Outperforms Stents in Patients with Multivessel Disease

    Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery may be the best treatment option for most patients with more than one blocked heart artery, according to research published online today in The Annals of Thoracic Surgery.

  • Post 1

    Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

    The term gastroesophageal reflux describes the movement (or reflux) of stomach contents back up into the esophagus, the muscular tube that extends from the neck to the abdomen and connects the back of the throat to the stomach.

  • Post 2

    Lung Cancer Prevention

    Cancer prevention is action taken to lower the chance of getting cancer. By preventing cancer, the number of new cases of cancer in a group or population is lowered. Hopefully, this will lower the number of deaths caused by cancer.

Download a FREE Health Care Handbook

This extensive handbook covers various topics such as:
- Understanding heart disease - Cardiac risk factors - Treatment procedures - Activity for a healthy heart - Nutrition for a healthy heart

FAQ

  • What is a normal heart?

    Valves, similar to one-way doors, control the continuous flow of blood through the four chambers of the heart. The cycle begins when blood from the body enters the top right chamber, the Right Atrium, and passes through the Tricuspid Valve into the Right Ventricle. The blood is pushed through the Pulmonary Valve and enters the lungs.

    Once the blood is re-supplied with oxygen, it re-enters the heart through the Pulmonary Veins into the Left Atrium. The blood then passes down through the Mitral Valve into the Left Ventricle. As the powerful left ventricular muscle of the heart contracts, the oxygen-rich blood rushes through the Aortic Valve and is circulated throughout the body via the Aorta. 

  • How should I take care of my heart?

    Now that you’ve got your heart back in optimal working order, you owe it to yourself and your family to keep it that way.

    The continuing threats to coronary health, even after successful bypass surgery, are numerous: smoking, high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, inactivity, diabetes, obesity, and a family history of heart disease.

    The good news is that many of these risk factors are largely within our power to change. One of the best things you can do for your heart is to steer a course in your lifestyle that reduces these risks as much as possible.

    Cigarette smoking deprives the heart of needed oxygen and contributes to the buildup of fatty deposits in the coronary arteries. If you smoke, do yourself a favor and kick the habit. If you can’t do it alone, join a smoking cessation group, or get help from friends, family or your primary physician.

    High blood pressure is another risk factor that can be controlled by careful adherence to proper diet, exercise and medication. During the recovery period after heart surgery, individuals who are troubled by chronic stress can benefit from relaxation therapy and the avoidance of conflict.

  • When is Valve Surgery needed?

    When heart valves are seriously harmed by birth defects, inflammation, degeneration or infection, surgery may be required to repair or replace them. Damage to these one-way valves can place excessive strain on the heart muscle and interfere with efficient blood flow to the organs of the body.

    Some common problems that are treated by surgery include valves that “leak” (regurgitation) and valves that are constricted by scar tissue, a condition known as stenosis. When replacement of a valve is called for, your doctor will discuss with you which type of valve you will receive, and describe how it works.

  • When is Bypass Surgery necessary?

    The inner surfaces of the healthy arteries are smooth and flexible, which permit blood to flow freely and reach the muscle of the heart. When walls become clogged with scar tissue which includes fatty materials, the result is a condition known as atherosclerosis.

    Many factors can contribute to atherosclerosis – some of which are: high blood pressure, elevated blood cholesterol, smoking, diabetes, a family history of atherosclerosis and lack of regular physical activity. In some cases the reduced flow of blood to the heart can cause angina (chest pain, arm or throat discomfort), shortness of breath, or a heart attack. When blockage is severe, surgery may be required to reroute the blood supply around a damaged or blocked coronary artery, a process known as “bypass grafting.”

    The purpose of coronary bypass surgery is to circumvent the blockages in your coronary arteries. Surgeons use an artery in your chest, the internal mammary artery, and/or segments of leg veins called the saphenous veins. When the internal mammary artery is utilized, one end is usually left attached to the subclavian artery supplying blood to your arms and the cut end is connected just beyond the blockage in the coronary artery. When veins are used, one end of the vein is attached to the Aorta and the other end is connected just beyond the blocked area of the artery to “bypass” the obstruction. Other conduits that can be used include the radial artery from either forearm or veins from the upper arm (cephalic veins). The resulting improvement in blood flow through the arteries can reduce or eliminate angina, prevent heart attacks, and improve long-term survival.​

Get in touch

Feel free to contact us if you need more information or wish to schedule your first consultation.

  • Find me here

    PR. No: 0147354
    Suite B23a, Life Fourways HospitalCnr Cedar Road & Cedar Avenue West,Fourways, 2055

  • Call us

    (011) 875 1820(011) 875 1821


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