I had the pleasure of watching another open heart surgery -this time it was a bypass surgery. Here is an explanation, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coronary_artery_bypass_surgery, compliments of Wikipedia. I have to admit the valve replacement surgery was pretty awesome compared to this one. Don't get me wrong, open heart surgery is pretty amazing, but there is a different level of "awe." The valve replacement (I put a picture up to give some perspective) seemed to be a little more extensive and time consuming because the valve had to be sewn all the way around the base to the heart, 48 stitches to be exact.
The bypass surgery consisted of veins being removed from the leg and then sewn onto the heart before the area of blockage and after to “bypass” the blockage and allow blood to get through.
During a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), the chest is opened to visualize the heart (A). A heart-lung machine takes over the function of the heart during the procedure. A portion of the saphenous vein of the leg is removed (B). This vessel is used to bypass a blockage of the coronary artery. It is attached from the aorta past the point of blockage (C). Another option is to bypass a blockage with the mammary artery (D). The bypass increases blood flow to the area served by the coronary artery (E). (Illustration by Argosy.)
It was amazing at how the surgeons made this look so simple. I know that years of performing this procedure is the reason for this, but it was still pretty impressive to watch.
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