Open-Heart Surgery at OMHS

Coronary artery disease develops because of hardening of the arteries (arteriosclerosis) that supply blood to the heart muscle. Coronary artery bypass graft surgery reestablishes sufficient blood flow to deliveroxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle. At the OMHS Heart Center, more than half of the open-heart procedures are beating heart, or “warmheart,” surgeries. Using this technique, surgeons allow the patient’s heart to continue beating instead of using a heart lung machine to pump blood and oxygen through the patient’s body.

Warm-heart surgery is less invasive, offers greater safety and places less stress on the body. It also lowers the risk for complications, leads to shorter hospital stays, fewer blood transfusions and a decreased risk of stroke and death.

Learn more about open-heart surgery in our Interactive Heart Center.