Bypass Surgery

Types of CABG Surgery in India - Cardiac Bypass Procedures Explained

Cardiac bypass surgery can be performed in several ways. This short explains the main approaches a surgeon may consider for your procedure.

Traditional on-pump surgery

This is the most common type of bypass surgery, also known as conventional CABG.

• Heart-lung machine. Your heart is temporarily stopped during the procedure. A heart-lung machine takes over to circulate and oxygenate your blood.
• Surgical access. The surgeon makes an incision down the centre of your chest and divides the breastbone to gain direct access to the heart.
• A still heart. This approach allows the surgeon to work very precisely on a heart that is not moving. It is often used for complex or multiple bypass grafts.

Off-pump and minimally invasive surgery

In some cases, surgeons may use techniques that do not require stopping the heart or making a large incision.

• Off-pump CABG. This is also called 'beating heart surgery'. The procedure is performed on your beating heart, without using a heart-lung machine.
• Stabilisation. The surgeon uses a special device to keep the specific area of the heart stable while they attach the new grafts.
• Minimally invasive CABG. This approach uses several small incisions between the ribs. It avoids the need to divide the breastbone and is sometimes called keyhole surgery.
• Case by case. These approaches are not suitable for all patients. The decision depends on the location of the blockages and how many grafts are needed.

The most suitable type of bypass surgery depends on your specific condition, the number and location of blockages, and your overall health. A specialist cardiac surgeon can determine the best approach after reviewing your medical reports and recent imaging.