open-heart

adjective

ˌō-pən-ˈhärt 

: of, relating to, or performed on a heart temporarily stopped and relieved of circulatory function and surgically opened for repair of defects or damage

open-heart surgery

Examples of open-heart in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adkins was airlifted to Vanderbilt University Medical Center and underwent emergency open-heart surgery. — Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE, 28 July 2026

Feek wrote that Indiana, who has Down syndrome, had been at the same hospital for open-heart surgery two weeks prior. — Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 15 July 2026

Just two weeks after his 12-year-old daughter, Indiana, underwent open-heart surgery, Feek said she was rushed to a hospital and airlifted by helicopter after a sudden health scare left him and wife Rebecca fearing the worst. — Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 14 July 2026

The treatment for aortic dissection is emergency open-heart surgery to remove the torn portion of the aorta, says Elnaggar. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 13 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for open-heart

• counterpart
• apart
• depart
• flowchart
• forepart
• impart
• pushcart
• rampart
• redstart
• restart
• subpart
• sweetheart

Kids Definition

open-heart

adjective

: of, relating to, or done on a heart temporarily stopped and surgically opened for repair of defects or damage

open-heart surgery

Medical Definition

open-heart

adjective

: of, relating to, or performed on a heart temporarily stopped and relieved of circulatory function and surgically opened for repair of defects or damage

open-heart surgery