Skilled cardiac surgeons at Manatee Memorial Hospital perform a comprehensive range of cardiovascular procedures to help patients with advanced heart disease.
Coronary Bypass Surgery
Patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) may have serious blockages in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. When minimally invasive procedures, such as angioplasty, can’t be used to improve their conditions, patients may benefit from coronary artery bypass surgery. During this procedure, the surgeon creates a new path for blood to flow to the heart by attaching a healthy piece of vein or artery to the coronary artery, which allows the blood to bypass the blockage.
Surgeons at Manatee Memorial Hospital use advanced strategies and techniques to perform bypass surgery.
Traditional Bypass Surgery
During a traditional bypass surgery, surgeons make an incision down the center of the chest and open the breastbone to reach the heart. The patient’s heart is stopped during the procedure and a heart-lung machine is used to pump blood throughout the body. Surgeons then graft a section of a healthy vein or artery onto the affected vessel to restore blood flow to the heart. The procedure may also may reduce chest pain and lower the risk of heart attack.
Off-Pump Bypass Surgery
Some bypass surgeries can be done without stopping the heart. During an off-pump procedure, the surgeon immobilizes a section of the heart with specially designed stabilizers. The rest of the heart continues beating normally so a heart-lung machine isn’t needed during the procedure.
Patients who undergo off-pump procedures may have a reduced risk of developing some of the complications associated with the heart-lung machine such as swelling, clotting and neurological issues.