A new international study led by an Ottawa cardiac surgeon has found that a less invasive form of heart bypass surgery works just as well as the decades-old standard procedure — and may help patients recover faster.
Dr. Marc Ruel of the University of Ottawa Heart Institute led the randomized trial, published in The Lancet, comparing traditional open-chest bypass surgery to a technique performed through a small incision between the ribs. The study tracked 170 patients who needed bypasses for multiple blocked arteries, enrolling participants at seven hospitals across six countries — including Canada, the United States, Germany, Japan, China and India — between 2018 and 2024.
Researchers measured patients’ physical function one month after surgery and found those who underwent the minimally invasive procedure reported an easier recovery, with results at least as strong as those who had the conventional operation. Ruel said it’s the first time a minimally invasive heart surgery technique has been shown to match or exceed the outcomes of the traditional approach.
Most patients in the trial were in their mid-60s, and about half had diabetes. Researchers say the findings could support wider use of the less invasive technique for patients with complex blockages, though longer-term follow-up is expected.
Via CBC News.
