Expanding the blocked heart vessel with a balloon by angioplasty, followed by stenting, is a successful alternative for patients who are suitable for this treatment option. However, not all angioplasty procedures give the same result. If the heart vessel is narrowed in more than one place, in areas where the vessels bifurcate, if a long section is narrowed and if there are stenoses in all of the vessels feeding the heart, bypass surgery will be a definitive and long-lasting solution. 
Cardiovascular occlusion is a disease with a cure. However, it should be treated long-lasting and without the need for repeated procedures. While the blocked vessel is opened with angiography, a new vessel is sewn beyond the blockages in bypass surgery. In this way, it is possible to send blood beyond all blockages and a complete solution is found for stenoses that may occur in the future. Especially if more than one heart vessel is blocked, surgery is the definitive solution. Forced stents to postpone surgery take away your life and heart health.

I was told that I would not benefit from surgery, can I continue with medication with blocked vessels?

In cardiovascular blockages, especially in diabetics, the vessels narrow from more than one place and all the heart vessels are involved. In this case, the number of stents to be inserted increases and long stents are used. In this case, there is a risk of repeated heart attacks due to early stent blockages. This group of patients benefit the most from bypass surgery.
Since it is not possible to open the vessels with medication, you live at risk of a heart attack at any time. One out of every three people who have a heart attack dies. Those who survive become heart failure patients due to deterioration of the heart muscle. Surgeries performed after a heart attack are more risky, and complaints due to failure often persist after surgery. Every time you delay the operation, time works against you.

I don't want to have my breastbone opened for the operation, isn't there another way of bypass?

In our mini-bypass operations, the breastbone is not opened. We perform all bypasses in an open operation through a small incision made at the level of the left breast. In addition, the leg vein is also removed closed with the endoscopic method. Therefore, there are no risks such as malunion of the sternum or infection in the leg wound. Many patients ask, ‘Can you do all the vessels you do in open surgery also in closed surgery?’ or ‘Can you also do the posterior and right arteries of the heart?’. Mini-bypass is to perform the same closed operation as in an open surgery in which vessel and how many vessels will be intervened. All bypass surgeries can be performed closed.

I need bypass surgery, but they said it was risky. Do I have to wait for a heart attack?

People for whom bypass surgery is risky are diabetics, COPD (lung disease), obese, women and elderly patients. The risks of all these patients are problems related to the opening of the sternum rather than the difficulty of bypass. Since wound healing is problematic in diabetic patients, the risk of infection is high if the leg vein is removed open with a long incision and if there is a long wound in the chest. If the sternum is opened, COPD patients experience lung problems if they cannot breathe and cough comfortably due to pain and bone stability. Since the load on the bone increases in patients with obesity, after the bone is attached with steel wires, the wires may break or cut the bone and cause nonunion and they may need bone surgery again and again. In female patients, since the mini-bypass is performed completely under the left breast, there is no visible scar. In addition, nonunion of the bone after open surgery due to bone resorption is frequently seen in elderly and female patients.

I need a bypass, but I can't live with that scar and psychology. Will my work and social life be completely over?

After a conventional bypass operation, you will need to rest for several months. You are not allowed to drive a car or lie on your side for at least two months. You will have to give up most of the sportive activities you used to do. In addition, especially in the summer months, it may be uncomfortable for you to have a large scar in the centre of your chest and on your leg.
You can be discharged on the 4th day after the mini-bypass and you can drive your car home. The day after the operation, you can lie on your side and use your arms as you wish. You can start all kinds of sportive activities (tennis, diving, weight training) within two weeks. Especially in female patients, since the incision is completely under the breast, it is not recognised that you have had surgery even if you swim in the sea in summer in a bikini. There is no scar on your leg when you wear shorts or skirts.
Mini-bypass surgery allows you to obtain all the benefits of bypass surgery, but get rid of all the burden.