AUSTIN, Texas—In September 2011, doctors at Heart Hospital of Austin became the first in Austin to perform a minimally invasive, hybrid procedure to treat multivessel coronary disease. This hybrid procedure—a collaborative approach to cardiac revascularization that involves both a cardiologist and cardiac surgeon—combines coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and coronary artery stenting to restore blood supply to the heart.

The CABG procedure was performed by Faraz Kerendi, M.D., cardiac surgeon at Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons who practices at Heart Hospital of Austin. Frank Zidar, M.D., director of coronary and peripheral intervention at Austin Heart and director of cardiac catheterization laboratories at Heart Hospital of Austin, placed the stent in another diseased vessel through a small tube in the groin.

During this procedure, physicians use specialized instruments to get to the left internal mammary artery (LIMA)—which sits behind the sternum—through a small incision in the chest, between the ribs. Doctors then graft the LIMA onto the left anterior descending coronary artery, bypassing the blockage.

“One of the most significant benefits to the patient is the reduced recovery time, as it eliminates the need to cut the sternum—a traditional approach for open-chest surgery,” Dr. Zidar said. “This novel approach to treating patients with multivessel coronary disease will be increasingly used, as it provides the same long-term benefit to patients while minimizing recovery time.”

This less-invasive approach to multivessel revascularization usually requires only two to three weeks for recovery, versus six to eight weeks for open-chest surgery.

“This minimally invasive procedure provides a survival advantage for patients because it allows physicians to use the LIMA,” Dr. Kerendi said. “Bypass surgery using the LIMA results in longer life expectancy.”

Heart Hospital of Austin

Specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular disease, Heart Hospital of Austin is a shared vision of local cardiologists and cardiovascular surgeons. Working with hospital leadership, the physicians created an atmosphere of quality, resulting in the leading cardiac program in Texas for six consecutive years as ranked by HealthGrades®—a leading independent health ratings organization. In July 2009, a studyfunded by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services revealed that Heart Hospital of Austin was the leading hospital in the United States for treatment of a heart attack. Heart Hospital of Austin is also a five-time recipient of the Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals® Cardiovascular Benchmarks for Success award. In addition to providing a full range of cardiovascular services and an advanced Executive Wellness Program, Heart Hospital of Austin has a comprehensive 24-hour emergency department. For more information, please visit HeartHospitalofAustin.com.