In traditional bypass, a patient's heart is stopped while surgeons work. Blood continues to flow through the body via the heart-lung machine. But there are risks of losing brain power. Dale's wife Mary had a triple bypass a few months before his. She was placed on the heart-lung machine and not only had complications, but mentally, she's not the same.
Research shows that there are fewer problems with the brain after the beating heart surgery.
Dale Sparrow is living proof that the beating heart surgery has strong benefits with little impact on the brain. That's not the case for his wife, Mary. I wish I would have known about it. Although the beating heart bypass is another option for heart patients, it will not replace the traditional bypass surgery. Not everyone is a candidate for the new procedure.