Coronary Artery Disease
The long term results of coronary artery
bypass are outstanding and inarguable. In 2005, significant
advantages from bypass surgery over other treatments, including
stents, have been reaffirmed in the New England Journal of
Medicine (N Engl J Med 2005;352:2174-2183). In spite of excellent
long term results and a survival benefit conferred by surgery,
many people are not desirous of coronary artery bypass surgery
because of the perceived long recovery following division
of the breast bone. Today, using robotics and beating heart
techniques, multi-vessel bypass surgery is now possible without
cutting the breast bone. The excellent results of these procedures
is based on our unique experience as one of only a handful
of US surgeons participating in the USA TECAB trial in which
we performed the first closed chest bypass in the Midwest
(Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 2002). Four years and hundreds
of patients later, we now can perform bypass surgery to one
or all areas of the heart without dividing the breast bone
and while the heart beats. In addition these techniques are
combined with beating heart techniques to allow bypass surgery
to be done with the least intrusion to the patient. The advantages
of bypass surgery without the major incision and without
the pump is faster recovery. Even the vein is removed with
a scope (See images below). If you think you might be a candidate
or would like more information, contact us for a free consultation.
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