Closed-heart cardiac surgery

Closed-heart cardiac surgery covers procedures performed without opening the cardiac chambers and without using cardiopulmonary bypass. The heart continues to beat normally during the operation, avoiding the constraints associated with temporary cardiac arrest. This approach is used in particular for certain so-called "beating-heart" coronary artery bypass grafts, for procedures on the vessels close to the heart, and for certain corrections of malformations. The surgeon uses stabilisation devices that immobilise only the area being operated on, while the rest of the heart carries on working. When indicated, this technique can allow faster recovery and a simpler post-operative course. The choice between closed-heart surgery and surgery under CPB is always discussed case by case by the medical-surgical team, according to the condition and profile of each patient. At Clinique Pasteur Tunis, the cardiovascular surgery team has mastered all of these techniques and selects the most suitable approach for each patient, with post-operative monitoring provided in a specialised intensive care unit.