Heart surgeons with the SSM Heart Institute perform some of the most advanced, “next generation” procedures in the medical industry. Our experienced professionals specialize in open-heart surgeries that are highly effective in treating heart conditions, yet are also designed to help minimize patient recovery times and maximize the best possible patient outcomes.
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery
A coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is a surgical procedure in which blood is rerouted around clogged arteries to improve the blood supply to the heart. The surgery uses a piece of a vein from the leg or an artery from the chest or wrist. The surgeon attaches this to the coronary artery above and below the narrowed area or blockage. This allows blood to bypass the blockage.
This surgery is usually performed with the heart stopped, necessitating the usage of a heart-lung machine – an artificial device that pumps oxygen and blood through the body.
Specialized Procedure: Off-pump CABG
Some patients may benefit from a newer surgical technique that allows the heart to continue beating during CABG surgery. Off-pump or beating heart bypass surgery can reduce complications and reduce the need for blood transfusion in certain patients. SSM Heart Institute surgeons are leaders in off-pump bypass surgery, performing the procedure at rates twice that of the national average.
Instead of stopping the patient’s heart and performing coronary bypass using a heart-lung machine, off-pump bypass allows the heart to continue its natural beating during surgery. Medical studies indicate that using the traditional heart-lung machine approach may result in:
- Decreased mental capability.
- An increased possibility of stroke.
Women who undergo “off-pump” bypass surgery:
- Require fewer blood transfusions (because of a lower volume of circulating blood any blood loss in women is more significant).
- Tend to be released from intensive care and the hospital more quickly.
- Can anticipate a lower risk of kidney problems.
