The use of bypasses to revascularize the coronary arteries has become standard and is regularly performed with the heart-lung machine. This procedure leads to a high degree of safety for the patient with very low complication risk.

In the past, vein grafts (usually V. saphena magna) was mainly used in coronary surgery. Today, whenever possible, arterial bypasses are performed.

Convincing arguments for arterial treatment resulted in excellent long-term patency rates of bypasses, e.g. with the left thoracic artery (LIMA) of over 90% after 10 years. This results in less need for revascularization measures.

In our clinic, we offer all common and various forms of coronary surgery:

• Bypass Surgery of Veins and Arteries
• Total Arterial Revascularization (TAR)
• Minimally Invasive Techniques
• Without Heart-Lung Machine (OPCAB)
• Bypass Surgery in Acute Infarction
• Reconstruction of Complex Coronary Lesions
• Hybrid Revascularization
• Minimized Heart-Lung Machine

Coronary Surgery without Heart-Lung Machine (OPCAB)

In some patients with a strong arteriosclerotic altered aorta, connecting a heart-lung machine (HLM) is extremely risky. For example, it can cause a stroke. In addition, the heart-lung machine triggers a general inflammatory response of the body through blood contact with the foreign surface. This can lead to disorders of blood clotting or to neurological disorders.

In these cases, beating heart surgery is indicated. The off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) procedure was developed in the early 1990's. In the process, stabilizers are used intraoperatively to calm the heart surface in the area of ​​the artery to be operated on. Today, OPCAB is a gentle alternative to traditional ONPUMP surgery using a heart-lung machine and is widely used in our clinic for appropriate patients.

OPCAB-Stabilisator - Octopus-Starfish Fa.: Medtronic