Blood flows through the new section, bypassing the blockage, and providing oxygenated blood to that area of the heart. But the procedure carries some risks. Patients need to be on a heart-lung bypass machine, which increases the risk of stroke. The large chest incision to access the heart can cause a significant amount of pain and a longer recovery for patients. And some patients experience side effects from the general anesthesia, such as dizziness and nausea.
Surgeons continue to look for better, less invasive ways to perform bypass surgery.
Using special equipment, doctors immobilize the target area of the heart muscle. The rest of the heart continues to beat while doctors perform the bypass on the immobilized section. That eliminates the need for a heart-lung bypass machine. Patients have a shorter recovery time and are often able to leave the hospital in two to three days as opposed to at least five days for a standard bypass. With a thoracic epidural, patients feel no pain in the chest area.