Minimal Invasive Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Standard coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery works very well to improve blood flow to the heart. But the procedure is very invasive to your body for two major reasons.

• It involves making a large cut in your chest to expose your heart and arteries.
• It requires stopping your heart and connecting you to a heart-lung bypass machine. The machine takes over the work of your heart and lungs.
• Because it is so invasive, the procedure can cause several complications. Surgeons have devised several new methods that are less invasive and have fewer risks. But minimally invasive CABG surgery is not available everywhere. And this surgery is not right for everyone.

Beating-heart surgery

Beating-heart surgery is different from the standard CABG surgery. During a standard CABG procedure, your heart will be stopped and you will be connected to a heart-lung bypass machine. Beating-heart surgery (BHS) is unique. That's because the procedure is performed while your heart is still beating. You don't need the heart-lung bypass machine.