Straub's "Off-Pump" Procedure Keeps The Heart Beating

6/15/2005

New procedure does not stop the heart during open-heart surgery

HONOLULU – A new type of heart-bypass surgery at Straub Clinic and Hospital doesn't require surgeons to stop the heart in order to repair it, as is done in conventional bypass surgery. Called off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery, the procedure is a less-invasive form of surgery and greatly reduces the risk of chest pain, heart attack and death in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Off-pump bypass surgery involves the same procedures that are performed in traditional open-heart surgery, where the surgeon removes a section of the patient's leg or mammary artery and uses it to create a bypass around blockages in the coronary arteries. Off-pump bypass allows the surgeon to do these procedures without having to stop the heart and temporarily reroute the patient's blood through a heart-lung machine, which is necessary during conventional bypass surgery.

"This new procedure is an important way to treat patients with coronary disease," says Mark Grattan, MD. "It will definitely be a real benefit to a substantial number of patients."

During the off-pump bypass procedure, surgeons use heart stabilizers and positioners to keep the targeted region of the heart almost stationary while they work on a particular coronary artery. The heart continues beating normally throughout the procedure and dramatically improves the flow of oxygen-rich blood. This reduces the risks associated with stopping the heart – such as stroke, heavy bleeding, and complications of "post-pump syndrome" that can affect lungs, kidneys, brain and other areas – in traditional bypass surgery.

Straub Clinic and Hospital is an affiliate of Hawaii Pacific Health, whose mission is to provide excellence in healthcare for individuals and communities in Hawaii. The Hawaii Pacific Health network includes a full array of tertiary, specialty, and acute-care services provided through its four major medical centers, which also serve as teaching and research centers. On Oahu, Hawaii Pacific Health hospitals and major facilities also include Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children, Kapi'olani Medical Center at Pali Momi and Kapi'olani Women's Center. On Kauai, Wilcox Memorial Hospital and Kauai Medical Clinic are part of the Hawaii Pacific Health hospital-physician network.

FOR MEDIA ONLY: To schedule an interview with Dr. Mark Grattan and one of his patients treated with the off-pump procedure, please contact Dara Fukuhara at (808) 543-3579, dfukuhara@commpac.com, or Jasmin Rodriguez at (808) 543-3514, jrodriguez@commpac.com.