Dr. Mahesh Ramchandani, a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, at the Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Houston, has been reported to utilize C-Port distal anastomosis and PAS-Port proximal anastomosis systems of Cardica Inc, in the minimally-invasive cardiac surgery/coronary artery bypass graft (MICS CABG) surgery, thereby providing an effective alternate procedure to the conventional open chest bypass graft.
According to Ramchandani, MICS offers a streamlined approach to the surgical procedure, featuring a minimally invasive procedure, with less operating time, quicker recovery and better patient outcomes. He added that the automated systems of Cardica help him to carry out multi-vessel cardiac bypass procedures by ensuring dependable anastomoses during the surgery.
The CABG procedure helps to reinstate blood flow through the blood vessels that carry blood to the heart. The blockage can be circumvented by taking a small portion of a blood vessel from another part of the body and then connecting it by surgical methods, ensuring continuous blood flow to the heart.
During MICS CABG, Dr. Ramchandani made a small incision in the ribcage, without disturbing the sternum. By using Cardica’s C-Port distal anastomosis and PAS-Port proximal anastomosis on a beating heart, he instantly incorporated the bypass grafts effectively, thereby helping to reach the target vessels which are inaccessible and eliminating the need for hand-sewn sutures. The PAS-PORT system helps in including the graft in the aorta, found opposite to the blocked area whereas the C-Port distal anastomosis system helps in attaching the graft to the coronary arteries that are downstream of the affected area.
It was reported that unlike open heart CABG surgery, patients who underwent the MICS CABG may leave in 2 to 3 days after the surgery and they can resume their normal life within a span of 2 weeks.