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Open Heart Surgery |
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The Intensive Care Unit
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One of the most recent advances in cardiac medicine is "beating heart" (or "off-pump") bypass. EIRMC is fortunate to have two cardiothoracic surgeons, Michael H. Denyer, M.D. and Greg R. Hodson, M.D. who have emerged as national experts in the technique.
Traditionally, patients who have needed open heart surgery have also needed a machine (the heart-lung bypass pump) to keep them alive while surgeons operated on their stopped hearts. The "off-pump" method allows surgeons to operate without the machine, while the patient's own heart is still beating.
What's so great about any of that? A LOT!
The "off-pump" method has been proven to:
 Cut mortality rates
Decrease complication rates
Decrease time spent on the ventilator after surgery
Decrease time spent in the ICU
Reduce total time spent in the hospital
In addition, Dr. Denyer and Dr. Hodson use a technique called "Endovascular Vein Harvesting", which allows them to get the leg vein used for the graft without making a long incision on the leg. Patients who have their vein harvested in this way have two very small incisions instead of one large incision that runs up the leg. This vein harvesting method not only decreases infections and healing times but is also much more comfortable for the patient. |
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