Mini "bypass" - start working in two weeks with new blood vessels

"Bypass" is the short name for aorto-coronary bypass surgery. In this operation, a shunt made from the patient's own vessels transfers blood to the healthy part of the vessel, leaving behind the narrowing in the coronary artery of the heart. The coronary arteries are the vessels most commonly affected by atherosclerosis, in addition to the abdominal aorta. Thus, aorto-coronary bypass surgery is the second most commonly performed surgical procedure in the world.
Although many experienced centers worldwide perform standard open "bypass" surgeries, patients are still concerned about the sternum dissection, the size of the incision, and how this trauma will affect their future life.

After Angiography..

Angiography is a method of imaging the vessels of the heart with a contrast agent under X-rays. It is this method of examination that most accurately shows stenosis or occlusion of the vessels. Previously, after angiography, one of three types of decisions was made: drug treatment, stenting, and open surgery. Now there is a fourth option: closed surgery. This new alternative method is also available in our country. Read on to find out who is suitable for closed surgery or mini "bypass".

Open surgery → Fear → Stent → Contraindications → Closed surgery

When patients hear the word "open heart surgery", they usually experience anxiety and fear. Sometimes this fear and the desire to escape to a little more comfort leads the patient to stenting. But installing a stent without an indication after a while leads to a return of complaints and a second intervention. Now we can offer this new method along with open surgery to patients when stenting is impossible or the long-term result is doubtful for the cardiologist. This method, which has begun to spread worldwide, has already begun to gain the sympathy of patients.

Mini "bypass" combines the long-term results of open surgery as well as the reduced trauma of stenting.

These surgeries are performed via an intercostal incision, that is, only by dissecting the muscle. The sternum is protected. This frees patients from having to lie on their back for long periods of time. As pain decreases, patients can breathe easily, thereby reducing the risk of pulmonary complications. Intake of analgesics is observed much less frequently. The patient does not require additional assistance to get out of bed, lie down, and move around.

There is no reason to delay surgery

Postponement is not recommended if you have narrowed or blocked arteries of the heart and surgery must be performed. The surgery is minimally invasive with an incision of only 6-8 cm. After the operation, performed by this method, patients are discharged home on the 4th-5th day and return to everyday life within 1-2 weeks. Thus, there is no need to postpone surgery due to work or personal plans.

The main advantage of the minimally invasive method for the patient is that it relieves the patient of the full burden of surgery, while ensuring that the long-term benefits of open surgery are fully utilized.

After 2 weeks at work

Mini-cut surgeries also have a psychological advantage over open surgeries. Although with open "bypass" surgeries, the patient can go back to work within 1-2 months, unfortunately, this period is always lengthened. This is because the patient feels as if he or she has just come out of a very difficult surgery and is not ready for the life that he or she was used to before. Sometimes a patient who underwent surgery 10 years ago, even if he is healthy, deprives himself of a lot. That's why we offer minimally invasive surgery to our patients. Because he can return to work within 2 weeks, meanwhile relieving of a serious health problem in the shortest possible time and with minimal trauma.

The biggest advantage of mini bypass surgery (closed bypass) is that it gives the patient the most comfortable and quickest recovery period possible.

What kind of patients can undergo a mini bypass?

Mini bypass is currently used in the surgical treatment of all coronary artery diseases. It is safe to use for all ages and genders, as long as the patient's thoracic anatomy is suitable and they have not undergone lung surgery before.

About the risks

Mini "bypass" is performing the same surgery as the open method, but in a less traumatic way and with an earlier rehabilitation period. Therefore, it carries the same surgical risks. On the contrary, minimally invasive surgeries have a lower risk of cerebrovascular disorders (stroke) than open surgeries, because computer tomography study performed before minimally invasive interventions allows seeing atherosclerotic plaques and calcifications in the patient's large and medium caliber vessels. Due to short incision risk of infection is considerably low.

A small incision in the leg

In addition to the internal thoracic artery (LIMA), the great saphenous vein (VSM) is the most commonly used vascular shunt when performing aorto-coronary bypass surgery. However, the removal of this vein can sometimes lead to serious complications. These include wound infection (especially in diabetic patients), pain syndrome, delayed healing, and unsatisfactory aesthetic results. In order to keep invasiveness to a minimum, to minimize incisions and avoid long and rough scars on the patient's body, in our center we use closed (endoscopic) vein extraction. In this case a 2-3 cm incision is used instead of a 40-50 cm incision.