Heart Surgery Today

Description -- The bypass machine of today has many high-tech features. Yet it still performs the same functions as Mayo's original machines from the 1950s. And despite all the innovations, it still takes a lot of machinery to replicate what your body can perform with an organ about the size of your fist -- that amazing pump, the human heart.

Dating from about 1957, Mayo's second bypass machine was exhibited in the Mayo Medical Museum (located on the site of today's Gonda Building) for many years.

Here we see how today's heart surgery can address multiple, serious problems. In one operation, the Mayo Clinic surgical team corrected three conditions:

1. Narrowed Aortic Valve (Aortic Stenosis)

This condition -- which restricts blood from exiting the heart -- can cause shortness of breath and blackouts. It also can lead to sudden death. Surgeons corrected the defect by inserting a mechanical valve.

2. Narrowing of the Arteries (Coronary Artery Disease)

This problem threatens blood supply to the muscle of the heart. It can lead to a heart attack. To correct the problem, Mayo's team provided two grafts in a coronary artery bypass procedure.

3. Narrowing of the Aorta (Coarctation)

This problem causes high blood pressure. Typically, surgeons would relieve the narrowing by correcting the problem area. Because this patient also had the problems noted above, surgeons provided a bypass graft.

Members of the team include cardiologists, radiologists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses and allied health professionals.