[kushie18]

[HIGHTECHDUDE]

Cartels do it better... no need for all the fancy equipment.

[shadowstein]

That must be so frightening. Poor woman.

Why did they need her awake? It's not brain surgery.

[Mr.NoCredit]

No thanks.

Covering my eyes..

[Norag]

From what I could find by doing a little looking around:

During open heart surgery, some patients are kept awake for a specific medical procedure called an awake coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery.

The primary reason for keeping patients awake during this type of surgery is to allow the medical team to monitor the patient's neurological function and identify any potential complications in real-time. By keeping the patient conscious, the surgeons can assess the patient's mental state and responsiveness throughout the procedure, which helps ensure the brain is receiving adequate blood flow and oxygen.

This technique is particularly useful for patients who are at a higher risk of neurological complications, such as those with severe peripheral artery disease, previous strokes, or other conditions that may affect blood flow to the brain. By continuously evaluating the patient's neurological status, the surgical team can make adjustments to the procedure as needed to minimize the risk of brain injury.

Additionally, keeping the patient awake during the surgery can help the medical team identify any issues with the graft placement or coronary artery bypass, as the patient can provide feedback on any discomfort or sensations they experience. This real-time feedback allows the surgeons to make immediate corrections to ensure the optimal outcome for the patient.

Overall, the practice of keeping patients awake during open heart surgery, specifically CABG procedures, is a specialized technique that helps enhance safety and improve surgical outcomes for high-risk patients.

I had never heard of it before, but they've apparently been doing them since the early 2000's

[Norag]

I take that back. I've found studies that were done in the 90's as well. So even earlier than I thought. The goal is to be able to do same day. At the very least, it minimizes hospital stays and makes recovering much quicker. Many studies show people recover quicker and better at home than in the hospital regardless of the procedure being done. Which makes sense to anyone that has had to stay in the hospital.