offerings cardiac surgery
Herzchirurgie

Bypass Surgery

Damit der Herzmuskel wieder gut durchblutet wird, behandeln wir verengte Herzkranzgefäße operativ.

[Translate to Englisch:] Bypass-OP im Herzzentrum

Bypass surgery is used to treat narrowing of the coronary arteries if treatment with drugs or stents and lifestyle changes are no longer working. The coronary arteries branch off from the aorta and supply the myocardium with blood. Narrowing of the coronary arteries means that deposits in the arteries prevent sufficient blood from reaching the myocardium. In a bypass operation, blood vessels from your own body are used to divert the flow of blood around (or bypass) these narrow areas. These blood vessels can be removed individually from different parts of your body. The blood vessel which has been removed is then sutured to the aorta and the affected coronary artery above the narrowed area. After conducting a number of tests and talking to the individual patient, the surgeon will decide which blood vessels to use and the precise method to be selected for the bypass surgery. Only the most advanced and patient-friendly procedures are used at Leipzig Heart Center.

On the day of your admission to a general ward, you will be questioned in detail, your paperwork will be examined, and any outstanding tests will be conducted, e.g. blood tests, X-rays or ultrasound examinations. Once all of your paperwork and tests are complete, you will discuss the operation you require with the surgeon and the anesthetist. The operation will take place the next day under general anesthesia. At the start of the operation, your breastbone will be opened and the required number of blood vessels removed from your chest wall, arm or lower leg. If necessary, you will then be connected to the heart-lung machine, and your heart stopped. The blood vessels for the bypass are attached to the aorta and the affected coronary arteries. Then the heart-lung machine is removed and the breastbone and skin carefully closed. For the next 24 hours you will be monitored in our intermediate care ward, before being transferred to the general ward. You will normally spend seven days in hospital.

There are a number of patient-friendly types of operation available in state-of-the-art bypass surgery. These reduce the risk of complications, such as impaired wound healing or a stroke, and will help you recover more quickly and spend less time in hospital. Each patient will be examined to determine the most suitable method to be used in their individual circumstances.

'Beating heart' bypass surgery (OPCAB) 

In many circumstances, a bypass operation can be carried out while the heart is still beating and without the use of the heart-lung machine or the need to stop the heart. The surgical area is immobilized with a stabilizer, allowing other areas of the heart to beat and the operation to proceed safely.

Minimally invasive bypass surgery (MIDCAB, MV-MIDCAB)

Bypass operations can also be performed without cutting through the breastbone, especially if the narrowed arteries are located on the anterior or lateral wall of the heart. Instead, the operation is performed through a small incision which is made on the left or right wall of the chest. This technique can also be performed while the heart is beating.

Minimally invasive blood vessel removal

If blood vessels are to be removed from the forearm (arteries) or leg (veins) for the bypass operation, this is done by making a small incision with the help of video technology (endoscopic removal). This reduces the risk of wound infections and benefits the healing process.

Bypass surgery is the type of heart operation most frequently performed at the Heart Center in Leipzig, and is considered one of the safest surgical procedures in the field of cardiac surgery. The risks associated with such operations depend upon your age and physical condition, whether you are suffering from any other health problems, and the urgency of the bypass operation (whether it is an emergency or a planned procedure). The surgeon will discuss all the risks that apply in your specific case as part of a detailed consultation.