Off-Pump Bypass (Beating Heart) Surgery

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Houston Cardiac Surgery Associates still lead the way in off-pump, or “beating heart” surgery. This leading edge procedure is being practiced throughout the country but not with the high-rate of application practiced by the surgeons at Houston Cardiac Surgery Associates. With over 2,000 Beating Heart or, "off-pump" surgeries performed by our doctors we lead the national average for applying this beneficial procedure to heart surgery patients. "Off-pump" procedures account for approximately 97% of our cardiac surgical bypass operations. The national average is about 10% to 15%.

Even now, most patients having Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) surgery are placed on the heart-lung machine, which substitutes for the patient's own heart and lungs and allows surgeons the easiest way to perform their delicate, precise cutting and sewing on a still heart. However, advanced surgeons and medical device companies have collaborated to develop new equipment and procedures to improve on CABG surgery by developing Beating Heart CABG surgery. Houston Cardiac Surgery Associates is leading the nation in the application of this new technology.

"Off-pump" surgery utilizes state-of-the-art technology by incorporating a heart-stabilizing device that immobilizes a portion of the patient's heart while allowing the rest of the heart to function normally. This procedure is less invasive on the patient allowing for shorter time in surgery, a faster recovery and reduced likelihood for complications such as, pneumonia, fluid retention, bleeding and more.

In Fall 2005, The International Society of Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery issued a consensus paper reviewing Off-Pump versus Conventional Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.  The results of that paper included: off pump methods are recommended to reduce morbidity and minimize midterm cognitive dysfunction, and should be considered as an alternative to “on-pump” procedures in order to reduce the duration of ventilation, ICU and hospital stay. Additionally, it was recommended that off pump methods should be considered in high-risk patients to reduce mortality and morbidity.

Beating Heart Surgery - A Primer

Off-pump Bypass Surgery - Frequently Asked Questions