Questions and Answers – Getting Beating Heart Bypass Surgery Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)

Why has my doctor recommended coronary artery bypass surgery?

The doctor may have recommended coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery for the following reasons:

  • There is significant narrowing or blockages in the coronary arteries.
  • The coronary artery disease has progressed beyond the point where it can be safely treated by medications.
  • The arteries have renarrowed after stents or angioplasty therapy.

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What do I need to know about CABG surgery?

CABG surgery is a major surgical procedure that reroutes blood flow to the portion of the heart beyond the blockage in the coronary artery.

The surgeon creates a graft using portions of another artery or vein taken from somewhere else in your body. One part of the graft is connected to an artery above the blockage, and the other section is connected below the blockage. This will re-establish blood flow to the affected area of the heart.

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What are the main differences between a conventional CABG surgery procedure, a beating heart CABG surgery procedure, and a MICS CABG surgery procedure?

During conventional CABG surgery, the heart is stopped so that the surgeon can more easily operate on it. The patient is placed on the heart-lung machine. The heart-lung machine does the work of the heart and lungs, providing blood flow to the entire body during the procedure.

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Beating heart CABG surgery allows the heart to continue beating while the surgery is performed. The heart does not need to be stopped. To make it easier to work on a moving/beating heart, the surgeon will use a device called a "tissue stabiliser" which immobilises the small section of the heart that needs the bypass graft, while the rest of the heart beats. A "heart positioner" is typically used to position the heart for access to the blocked coronary artery. MICS CABG is performed in a similar manner to beating heart CABG, but the surgeon uses only a small incision to access the heart, rather than a full sternotomy.

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Heart-Lung Machine
The heart-lung machine collects the blood. Special filters remove the carbon dioxide and other waste products. The oxygenator adds oxygen, the oxygenator's heat exchanger warms (or cools) the blood. The blood is gently circulated back through the body. 

Will I need to take medications after my surgery?

The patient may have to take medications after surgery. It depends on the patient's overall health and the particular nature of the coronary artery disease. The doctor will prescribe the medicines needed.

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Information on this site should not be used as a substitute for talking with your doctor. Always talk with your doctor about diagnosis and treatment information.