Surgery on a beating heart helps reduce the risk for complications associated with temporarily stopping the heart during surgery. If the heart is stopped for surgery, the surgeon must restart it and reintroduce blood into the tissue.

Is beating heart surgery safe?

Beating heart bypass surgery or off pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB) is a safe and proven option to conventional bypass surgery. Both Off Pump Coronary Artery Bypass (OPCAB) and traditional bypass surgery offer beneficial results. Doing surgery on a beating heart eliminates the need for the heart-lung machine.

What keeps a heart beating during heart surgery?

During beating heart bypass surgery, your heart continues to beat. You will not be put on a heart-lung machine. The part of your heart the surgeon works on is held still by a tissue stabilizer.