Heart Blockages develop because of risk factors like smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, family history and food habits. Bypass surgery and Angioplasty are done for blockages, which are life threatening. Though bypass surgery can take care of blockages, it doesn't prevent development of future blocks. Similarly, if surgery is not done properly of if the vein graft from the leg is used, a person may need surgery again because of re-blockages.
Second bypass surgery or redo bypass surgery is very complex and risky, because after the first surgery, the heart and lungs stick to the breast bone. Heart arteries become difficult to identify and there is a high risk of injuring the heart and major arteries during opening the chest. Beating heart surgery reduces the high risk of redo bypass.
In the traditional form of surgery, the heart is topped and connected to the heart lung machine. however, in a beating heart surgery, the heart is not connected to the heart lung machine and the surgery is done while the heart is still beating. The advantage is a quicker recovery and fewer complications.
Source :
Dr.Ramakant Panda,
Asian Heart Institute & TOI
