Frequently Asked Questions

How long has conventional CABG surgery been around?

Performed with the aid of a heart-lung bypass machine, conventional CABG has been available since the early 1960s.

When was beating-heart CABG approved for use?

The Food and Drug Administration approved beating-heart CABG in January of 1997.

How long has beating-heart CABG been available at Guthrie?

Guthrie cardiothoracic surgeons have offered this procedure since November 1999, when they determined that the advances in the procedure had improved enough to be safely applicable.

For whom is beating-heart CABG appropriate?

Beating-heart CABG is appropriate for patients with a variety of heart conditions, such as coronary artery disease, genetic heart problems or heart disease as a result of diet, lack of exercise or high cholesterol.

What sort of patients benefit most from beating-heart CABG?

Patients who derive the most benefit from beating-heart CABG are high-risk patients such as women, the elderly and those with additional risk factors such as diabetes.

What are the advantages of beating-heart CABG over conventional CABG?

The new equipment used in the beating-heart version of the procedure allows the surgeon greater access to various parts of the heart, including the reverse side. This enables the surgeon to perform more grafting and repair techniques to more parts of the heart. Additionally, there is a decreased length of hospital stay (two or three days instead of four) and a shorter recovery time for beating-heart CABG patients. Patients who have beating-heart CABG as opposed to on-pump bypass surgery have less blood loss and fewer instances of respiratory distress, total body inflammation reaction, kidney failure or post-operative heart attack or stroke. Beating-heart CABG also reduces problems with bleeding during surgery, and it can be useful in emergent situations, as well as in cases where the patient has been given emergency blood thinners/clot busters.

For information about making an appointment with a cardiac specialist at Guthrie, call toll-free 1-888-4GUTHRIE (1-888-448-8474).