Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass; MIDCAB; Robot assisted coronary artery bypass; RACAB; Keyhole heart surgery

Ask your doctor about the risks of surgery. In general, the complications of minimally invasive coronary artery bypass are lower than with open coronary artery bypass surgery.

Risks for any surgery include:

• Blood clots in the legs that may travel to the lungs
• Breathing problems
• Heart attack or stroke
• Infection of the lungs, urinary tract, and chest
• Blood loss

Possible risks of coronary artery bypass include:

• Memory loss, loss of mental clarity, or "fuzzy thinking" - less common in people who have minimally invasive coronary artery bypass than in people who have open coronary bypass
• Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmia)
• A chest wound infection - this is more likely to happen if you are obese, have diabetes, or have had coronary bypass surgery in the past
• Low-grade fever and chest pain (together called postpericardiotomy syndrome), which can last up to 6 months

Images

Posterior heart arteries

Coronary artery stent

Heart, front view

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Heart bypass surgery Recovery

Review Date: 06/02/2010
Reviewed By: Shabir Bhimji MD, PhD, Specializing in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland , TX Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)