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Home > Beating Heart Bypass Surgery

Overview

Published with the inputs from Dr Baburajan A K, Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgeon, Baby Memorial Hospitals- Kozhikode

Beating Heart Bypass Surgery, also known as Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (OPCAB), is a technique used to treat blocked coronary arteries without stopping the heart or using a heart-lung machine. Surgeons operate on the beating heart with specialized instruments, making the procedure less invasive and often safer for patients at high risk.

What is beating heart bypass surgery?

Beating heart bypass surgery is a form of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) performed while the heart continues to beat. Instead of using a heart-lung machine, surgeons stabilize small portions of the heart while attaching new grafts to reroute blood flow around blocked arteries.

How is beating heart bypass different from traditional bypass surgery?

Traditional CABG requires stopping the heart and using a heart-lung machine to circulate blood during surgery. In beating heart bypass, the heart continues pumping naturally, which reduces risks related to the use of the heart-lung machine and allows for a quicker recovery.

Who is a candidate for beating heart bypass surgery?

This approach may be recommended for patients with multiple coronary artery blockages, especially those at higher risk from traditional surgery, such as elderly patients, people with kidney or lung disease, or those with previous heart surgeries. The decision depends on the patient’s overall health and artery anatomy.

What are the benefits of beating heart bypass surgery?

Benefits include a lower risk of stroke, reduced bleeding, shorter time in the hospital, faster recovery, and fewer complications for high-risk patients. It can also result in less damage to the heart muscle and other organs.

What are the risks of beating heart bypass surgery?

As with any major heart surgery, risks include bleeding, infection, irregular heartbeat, or incomplete grafting if access to all blocked arteries is difficult. However, in experienced hands, outcomes are comparable to or better than traditional bypass surgery.

What is the recovery time after beating heart bypass surgery?

Most patients spend 4–6 days in the hospital after surgery. Recovery is often quicker than with conventional CABG, with many patients resuming light activities in 2–3 weeks. Full recovery may take up to 6–8 weeks, depending on overall health and lifestyle.

Is beating heart bypass surgery as effective as traditional bypass surgery?

Yes. Studies show that beating heart bypass provides similar long-term benefits in terms of relieving chest pain, improving blood flow, and reducing future cardiac risks, with the added advantage of fewer immediate complications in certain patients.

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If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with coronary artery disease and advised bypass surgery, our Cardiac Surgery Team at Baby Memorial Hospitals specializes in beating heart procedures for safer outcomes and faster recovery.

📞 Call us or book an Appointment Online to discuss your treatment options.

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