Houston Cardiac Surgery Associates: Beating heart surgery

Beating Heart Surgery – A Primer

The Heart and its Blood Supply

Normal Or Clear Artery

Plaque Forming In Occluded Artery

Progressively Blocked Artery

The heart is a muscular organ that continuously pumps blood rich with oxygen thourgh the entire body. In order to function properly, the heart muscle itself must also receive oxygen-rich blood. This blood is delivered through the blood vessels on the surface of the heart called coronary arteries.The coronary arteries can become blocked by a build-up of cholesterol fats. This build-up is called "atherosclerotic plaque" – often simply referred to as "plaque." Plaque deposits can make the arteries stiff and irregular, resulting in "hardening of the arteries."

Coronary artery desease can appear as a single blockage or multiple blockages, and can vary in sererity. The blockages in the coronary arteries reduce the blood supply to the heart, which in turn reduces the amount of oxygen that the heart muscle receives. The heart muscle is quite sensitive to oxygen levels and does not properly function when the arteries become blocked.

Internal Mammary Artery Graft Bypass

Radial Artery or Saphenous Vein Graft Bypass

Coronary artery bypass surgery restores the blood flow to the portion of the heart beyond the blockage. In the past when this was done a heart lung machine was used to stop the heart so surgery could be done. Today, Dr. Gibson and Dr. Gomez keep the heart beating with the use of a device called the octopus made by Medtronic. This stabilizing device immobilizes a small section of the heart that needs the bypass graft while the rest of the heart muscle continues to beat and pump blood to the body.

The potential advantages of beating heart surgery include shorter hospital stay, faster recovery time for the patients, less damage to blood cells sometimes caused by use of the heart lung machine. The time the patient spends in the operating room is lessened as well as the time spent on a breathing machine (ventilator). Most patients have better outcomes and less risk of stroke, pneumonia or kidney problems.

If you are in need of heart surgeon and think you might be a candidate for “Beating Heart Surgery” contact our office for an appointment.