Image 9: MIDCAB procedure being applied to a patient in surgery.
MIDCAB Procedure Invented in the 1990, the Minimally Invasive Direct Coronary Heart Bypass Surgery, otherwise known as MIDCAB is a less invasive procedure compared to the regular Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery. The procedure's purpose is to bypass one or two coronary arteries by creating an opening between the ribs or making several small incisions. Unlike CABG, cardioplegia (heart paralyzation) is not necessary and therefore the use of a heart-lung machine is also not needed, instead a stabilization system is used to steady a part of the heart. The benefits from the procedure include there being far less complications, a faster recovery time and less pain after surgery then a regular CABG procedure. Along with this because it is minimally invasive there is less rick for a hemorrhage and blood trauma, there is also a lower risk for infection due to leaving only a small incisions. Additionally, this procedure is also more readily available to a wider range of patients, due to being a low risk surgery in comparison to open heart surgery.