Bypass Surgery

Services

Understanding
Bypass Surgery

Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery & Open Heart Surgery

Bypass surgery is a commonly performed procedure for patients with blocked coronary arteries when medications, ballooning, or stenting are no longer effective. This surgery aims to restore blood flow to the heart muscle by diverting blood around clogged arteries using grafts. In advanced cases of coronary artery disease, bypass surgery may be considered the most comprehensive, effective, or necessary treatment option.

Approaches

Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery

  • Entry through a median sternotomy without stopping the heart and without using the heart-lung machine.
  • Special equipment and techniques allow the surgeon to perform the procedure safely and efficiently.
  • Uses the heart-lung machine without stopping the heart.
  • Suitable for patients with poor heart function or complex artery conditions.
  • Provides more space and ease for bypass connections, reducing the need to manipulate the heart excessively.
  • Small incision on the front side surface of the chest, below and left of the left nipple.
  • Bypasses all three arteries of the heart from a small chest wall incision.
  • Advanced technology allows for comprehensive bypasses through a minimally invasive approach.
  • Combines surgical and cardiological techniques for complete revascularization.
  • Surgeon performs some bypasses through a small incision, while the cardiologist completes the procedure with stenting.
  • Performed in a single operation in an advanced hybrid operating theatre.

Open Heart Surgery

  • Requires a median sternotomy, but the heart continues to beat during surgery.
  • Special equipment, such as heart positioning devices and suction tools, are used.
  • Combines surgical bypasses with stenting performed by a cardiologist.
  • Used when all necessary bypasses cannot be placed through a small chest wall incision.
  • Offers full revascularization and can be completed in a single operation.
  • The heart is connected to a heart-lung machine without being stopped.
  • Suitable for patients with poor heart function, thin or calcified arteries, or significant fat tissue or adhesions on the heart surface.
  • Provides more stability and allows for easier bypass connections without manipulating the heart excessively.

CONDITIONS WE TREAT

(Adj) Professor Theo Kofidis assesses and treats coronary artery disease, including blockages or narrowing of the heart’s arteries that may cause chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, or a heart attack. Depending on the extent of the disease and your overall health, treatment may involve coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), also known as heart bypass surgery, in which blood is rerouted around blocked arteries using a vessel taken from elsewhere in the body, such as the chest wall, leg, or arm. In selected patients, where clinically appropriate, bypass surgery may be performed using minimally invasive or endoscopic techniques, such as minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB), through smaller incisions rather than a full sternotomy. Bypass surgery may be performed on a beating heart (off-pump) or with a heart-lung machine (on-pump), and in some cases may be combined with valve surgery or hybrid procedures that pair surgery with stenting.

Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery

  • Coronary Artery Disease
  • Blockages That Cannot Be Treated With Medications, Ballooning, or Stenting
  • Multiple Artery Blockages Requiring Comprehensive Revascularization
  • Redo Surgeries

Open Heart Surgery

  • Coronary Artery Disease
  • Multiple Blocked or Narrowed Coronary Arteries
  • Failed Previous Treatments (Medications, Ballooning, or Stenting)
  • Combined Heart Conditions Requiring Surgical Intervention
  • Redo Surgeries

What to expect

Minimally Invasive & Open Heart

  • Thorough evaluation (Adj) Professor Theo Kofidis history, physical examination, and advanced imaging (e.g. CT scan) to tailor the surgical plan.
  • Consultation with (Adj) Professor Theo Kofidis to discuss minimally invasive & open heart options, their potential benefits & risks, and if patient qualifies for minimally invasive surgery.

Minimally Invasive

  • General anaesthesia is administered.
  • Precise bypass of blocked coronary arteries using specialised instruments through small incisions, minimising trauma to surrounding tissues.
  • Utilisation of advanced technologies such as robotic assistance and specialised imaging for enhanced precision.

Open Heart

  • General anaesthesia is administered.
  • Bypass of blocked or narrowed coronary arteries using open heart surgical methods, which involve opening the chest cavity.
  • Application of advanced surgical technologies and methods to ensure accurate procedure execution and optimal outcomes.

Minimally Invasive

  • Usually 1 day in ICU & 3-4 days in general ward.
  • Faster mobilisation and return to daily activities.
  • Follow-up appointments to monitor healing progress and overall cardiac health.

Open Heart

  • Usually 2 days in ICU & 5-7 days in general ward.
  • Slower mobilisation while in recovery.
  • Follow-up appointments to monitor healing progress and overall cardiac health.

Benefits

Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery

Less pain & quicker recovery period.

Results in smaller scars that are less visible.

Regain strength and mobility faster, allowing you to resume normal activities sooner.
Smaller incisions reduce the risk of post-surgical infections, leading to safer recovery.
Minimises blood loss, decreasing the need for transfusions.
Reduced physical trauma to the body facilitates quicker healing and less post-operative pain.
Lowers the likelihood of irregular heartbeats, enhancing overall cardiac stability post-surgery.
Preserving chest structure promotes improved lung function and breathing capacity shortly after surgery.

Smaller incisions result in less visible scarring, maintaining a more natural appearance.

Open Heart Surgery

In cases where the heart anatomy is complex or the arteries are severely diseased, open heart surgery may offer a more reliable option for complete revascularization.