Bypass in the beating heart

Bypass surgery is performed by cutting the sternum bone. Sometimes, single or two vessel bypass surgeries can be performed with small incisions under appropriate conditions. Aortic coronary bypass surgery is performed on the “working/beating” or “stopped” heart.

Classically, surgery is performed after the heart is stopped using the Heart Lung Machine. The heart is an extremely gentle and miraculous organ. The most frequently asked questions by patients are; How does the heart work after it is stopped? What if the heart doesn’t work?

With the Heart Lung machine, the heart is evacuated and stopped by administering a special fluid. There is no heart blood during this period. By reducing this special fluid and body temperature, energy expenditure of the heart is prevented. When the heart is filled with blood again, it works on its own. If it does not work very rarely, it is operated with a pacemaker. The heart cannot be removed during surgery. This is a false belief. The vast majority of surgeries are performed with this technique.

“Bypass in the beating heart” or otherwise known as “Bypass in the Working Heart” is generally applied in higher risk individuals in some special cases. Another name is the off-pump since the heart-lung pump is not used. It is preferred to protect the patient from some postoperative complications. Patients recover more easily and quickly. The vascular structure of the patients should be suitable for this technique. It is not suitable for use in calcareous veins with common atherosclerosis.

In general, patients with high risk in classical surgery; Patients with Chronic Kidney Failure (dialysis patients) and/or Lung problems (COPD) are patients who can be operated on the Beating Heart without putting them into the Heart Lung Machine. The incision is made in the same way for the patients.

The heart is brought to certain positions with special devices, while heart rate and blood pressure are controlled. These devices are called satbilzer: stabilizer. These are special retractors called octopuss and satrfish.

The same veins are used for bypass. THE TIME OF THE SURGERY IS SHORTER. Patients recover quickly. Recovery time is shorter.

But as I said, the patient’s veins should be suitable for this technique. I recommend this technique to suitable patients.

Key: heart, bypass, bypass in beating heart, serdar akgün