00:00To reach the heart, surgeons make a controlled opening through the center of the chest.
00:04This allows them to bypass blocked arteries and restore blood flow to the heart muscle.
00:10After anesthesia, an incision is made over the breastbone.
00:14A specialized oscillating sternal saw divides the sternum and a retractor gently holds it apart.
00:21Once the heart is accessible, surgeons may connect the patient to a heart-lung machine,
00:26which maintains circulation and oxygenates the blood during the procedure.
00:31They then use healthy blood vessels, commonly from the chest, arm, or leg,
00:36to create new pathways around the blockages.
00:38These bypass grafts restore blood flow to the heart muscle.
00:43Finally, the sternum is secured, the chest is closed, and recovery begins.
