The Department of Cardiac Surgery at Jupiter Hospital is led by a team of highly skilled experts who specialize in complex procedures such as bypass surgery. This procedure is performed to restore normal blood circulation in the body by bypassing clogged or damaged arteries. We utilize state-of-the-art facilities and advanced treatment modalities to ensure a seamless experience for patients throughout the entire process, from pre-operative to peri-operative and post-operative care. Our team is dedicated to providing the highest level of care and expertise to achieve optimal outcomes for our patients.

What is bypass surgery?
Heart bypass surgery, or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), is a procedure that creates a bypass around blocked arteries using a healthy blood vessel from the patient's leg or arm. This redirects blood flow, relieves symptoms, improves heart function, and reduces the risks of cardiac arrest and heart failure. CABG does not treat the underlying condition that caused the blockage, but it is an effective way to manage symptoms and improve heart health.

Who needs bypass surgery? 
Bypass surgery may be recommended to patients with any of the following problems:

• Severe angina (chest pain) triggered by the narrowing of the arteries.
• Two or more damaged arteries and dysfunctional left ventricle.
• Severely diseased or blocked left main coronary artery.
• Stenotic arteries that cannot be treated by simple angioplasty and stent placement.

What are the different types of bypass surgery?

• Conventional bypass surgery – It also known as on-pump CABG, is performed using the traditional open-heart method and involves the use of a heart-lung machine. The heart is temporarily stopped and blood is rerouted through the machine while the surgeon works on the blocked arteries.
• Off-pump bypass surgery – Off-pump bypass surgery, also known as beating-heart or OPCABG, is performed without the use of a heart-lung machine. Instead, the heart is stabilized with special equipment during surgery, allowing the surgeon to work on the beating heart.
• Minimally invasive bypass surgery –Minimally invasive bypass surgery is performed using robotics and video imaging technology via tiny keyhole incisions on the patient's chest.

What are the benefits of bypass surgery?
The various benefits of bypass surgery include the following:

• Relief from chest pain and discomfort
• Return to a normal lifestyle
• Reduced risks of cardiac arrest and heart failure.
• Improved survival rates

Congestive heart failure, or heart failure, is a condition where the heart cannot pump blood effectively. It can be caused by various underlying heart problems such as coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, damaged heart valve, cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, arrhythmia, or congenital heart defect.

What is heart failure?
Commonly known as congestive heart failure, it is a condition marked by the inability of the heart to pump blood efficiently and may be a result of an underlying heart problem like coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, damaged heart valve, cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, arrhythmia or some congenital heart defect. 

How is the condition diagnosed?
Heart failure is diagnosed by proper physical evaluation followed by a series of screenings and tests that include:

• Blood tests
• Chest x-rays
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• Echocardiogram
• Stress test
• Coronary angiography
• Coronary angiogram
• Myocardial biopsy 
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
• Cardiac computerised tomography (CT) scan

What are the treatment options available?
The numerous available treatments for congestive heart failure include:

• Coronary bypass surgery: Coronary bypass surgery is a common treatment option for congestive heart failure when there are severely obstructed coronary arteries. This procedure involves creating a bypass using a healthy blood vessel from the patient's arm, leg, or chest to restore normal blood flow to the heart.
• Heart valve repair or replacement: Repair or replacement of heart valves is another treatment option for congestive heart failure. This surgical procedure aims to repair or replace diseased or damaged heart valves. It can be performed using either the traditional open-heart technique or the latest minimally invasive technique, depending on the patient's preference and overall medical evaluation.
• Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs): Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are electronic devices that are surgically implanted beneath the skin in the chest cavity. They are used to regulate the heartbeats of patients suffering from arrhythmia by generating electric pulses or shocks. ICDs are an effective treatment option for patients at risk of life-threatening arrhythmias and can help restore normal heart rhythm and prevent sudden cardiac arrest.
• Ventricular assist devices (VADs): Ventricular assist devices (VADs), also known as mechanical circulatory support devices, are mechanical pumps that are implanted in the abdominal or chest cavity. They are designed to assist the heart in pumping blood efficiently in patients with severe heart failure. VADs are often used as a bridge-to-transplant option for patients who are waiting for a heart transplant, helping to keep their heart functioning until a suitable donor heart becomes available.
• Heart transplant: Heart transplant is considered as a viable treatment option for patients with severe heart failure who have not responded to other treatments. This surgical procedure involves replacing a diseased or non-functional heart with a healthy heart from a deceased donor. Heart transplantation is typically reserved for patients with end-stage heart failure, where other medical interventions have been unsuccessful in managing their condition

The Department of Cardiac Surgery at Jupiter Hospital delivers cutting-edge surgical techniques and treatments, such as minimal access surgeries, which have gained enormous pace in recent years, in accordance with the most recent medical breakthroughs.

What precisely are minimally invasive procedures?
The term "minimal access surgery" refers to a group of minimally invasive surgical procedures that are conducted through a very small incision using specialised imaging technologies and robotic techniques.

Why is the procedure performed?
Minimal access heart surgeries can be performed for any of the following reasons:

• Mitral valve repair/replacement
• Tricuspid valve repair/replacement
• Aortic valve repair/replacement
• Atrial septal defect repair
• Atrioventricular septal defect 
• Coronary artery bypass surgery
• MAZE procedure for atrial fibrillation 
• Ventricular assist device placement 

What are the benefits of minimally invasive heart surgery? 
Various benefits of minimally invasive heart surgeries include:

• Reduced blood loss
• Decreased risks of infection
• Alleviated post-operative trauma and pain
• Shorter convalescence period 
• Minimal scarring