ahmetyavuzbalci
Beating Heart Bypass Surgery

Beating heart bypass surgery refers to bypass operations performed while the patient’s heart is still beating and not connected to a heart-lung machine. This approach preserves the heart’s functional activity and helps prevent complications that might arise from stopping the heart and using a heart-lung machine to maintain blood flow to other organs. After conducting tests, analyses, and evaluations, if deemed suitable, a specialist physician decides to perform the bypass surgery on the beating heart. During the surgery, a vessel taken from another part of the body is grafted onto the heart artery, and the heart continues to beat throughout the procedure. Since the patient is not connected to a heart-lung machine, the risk of some complications in other organs post-surgery is also reduced.

How is Underarm Heart Surgery Performed?

Underarm heart surgeries are performed through small incisions, known as minimally invasive surgery. The location of these small incisions can vary depending on the condition. For example, minimally invasive heart surgery for heart valves is performed through small incisions under the right armpit. In coronary bypass surgeries, a small 7-8 centimeter incision is made under the breast for single-vessel cases. For two-vessel bypass surgeries, a similar small incision can be made on the opposite side, under the left armpit. In underarm heart surgeries, no bones or muscles are cut. The heart is accessed through the spaces between the ribs, the necessary intervention is performed, and the surgery is completed.

Ozaki Prosedürü

Pre and Post Coronary Bypass Surgery
By Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Yavuz BALCI

The vessels that supply blood to the heart are called coronary arteries or coronary vessels. There are three coronary vessels that supply blood to the heart. Coronary artery diseases can occur due to blockages or narrowings in these coronary vessels. In such cases, the heart cannot be adequately nourished, and sudden complete blockages can lead to heart attacks. Coronary bypass surgeries are performed to address the narrowings and blockages in these vessels by using vessels taken from other parts of the body to bridge the blocked coronary vessels and restore blood flow.