Is Every Patient Suitable for Closed Bypass Surgery? Who Can Have Closed Bypass Surgery?
Closed bypass surgery is one of the methods used to treat vascular diseases. It is a surgical procedure performed through smaller incisions (6-8 cm) under the left breast without cutting the breastbone, meaning the chest cavity is not opened. Closed bypass surgery is performed with smaller incisions compared to the classic open surgery method.
The advantages of closed bypass surgery include a quicker and less painful recovery because the breastbone is not cut. The hospital discharge time is shorter, and there is less tissue and blood loss. The risk of infection is lower, and the chances of complications are reduced. After the surgery, the patient can return to their normal life more easily.
Whether closed bypass surgery is suitable for a patient depends on several factors, such as the patient’s age, medical condition, medical history, chronic illnesses, the current condition of the heart vessels, the severity of the vascular disease, and how widespread the disease is in the body. Based on these factors and the results of tests conducted by the doctor, if a patient is not suitable for closed bypass surgery, open coronary bypass surgery may be preferred instead.
Key Patient Characteristics Unsuitable for Closed Bypass Surgery:
There are very few patients for whom closed bypass surgery is not possible. Generally, closed bypass surgery can be performed on almost all patients requiring coronary bypass. The number of vessels to be bypassed is not a limiting factor for closed bypass surgery. Multiple vessels, such as 4-5 arteries, including those on the back wall and right side of the heart, are not barriers to performing closed bypass.
Some rare exceptions include:
- Patients who have previously undergone surgery on the lung or chest area are not suitable for closed surgery.
- Patients who have had lung diseases like tuberculosis or pneumonia may not be suitable.
- Patients with lung adhesions, where the lung membrane sticks to the chest wall, may not be suitable, as this makes it difficult to reach the heart during surgery.
- Patients with unstable blood pressure are not suitable for closed bypass.
- Obese patients are generally not excluded from closed bypass surgery, but the final decision depends on the tests conducted by the surgeon.
- Patients who require surgical intervention for heart valves along with coronary bypass may not be suitable for closed bypass surgery. Such cases should be evaluated by a Cardiovascular Surgeon experienced in closed bypass procedures. In some cases, valve and coronary bypass surgeries can be performed simultaneously using the closed method.
Each patient’s case should be evaluated individually, and the suitability for closed bypass surgery should be determined by a specialized and experienced surgeon.