On February 21, 2012, Dr. Michael P. Macris, board-certified in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, performed the first live surgical twittercast of a beating open heart surgery in the United States.
Watch this slideshow to view the highlights of the live event. Blank slides contain videos that take time to load. For a complete transcript of the event, see below the slideshow. Due to the graphic content of this event, VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
To protect the patient’s privacy only age, condition and gender will be identified at the beginning of the event.
The twittercast will provide an educational inside look into a common heart surgery, a beating heart double bypass. Memorial Hermann will tweet consecutively for 2 hours under the hashtag #MHopenheart and provide updates through video, still photography and a live helmet camera the surgeon will wear during the procedure.
Join the conversation on Twitter with hashtag #mhopenheart, or follow the conversation and ask questions on this page using the window above.
Houston cardiologist Dr. Paresh Patel will be taking questions live online during the event.
Michael P. Macris, M.D., F.A.C.S. is board-certified in cardiovascular and thoracic surgery.
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Dr. Michael P. Macris is recognized in the medical profession for his participation in the advancement of surgical techniques that greatly improve the level of positive patient outcomes. He is a leader in the development and use of effective Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass (OPCAB) surgical techniques. OPCAB, or “beating heart” surgery, eliminates the need for a heart/lung machine to keep the patient’s heart beating during bypass surgery. OPCAB has had a significant impact on the rate of positive surgical outcomes and on the cost-effectiveness of cardiovascular care, because it can significantly reduce the risk of stroke and other complications that often result from conventional surgical techniques.
- Specializing in the surgical treatment of diseases of the heart, lungs, and blood vessels.
Areas of Interest: Atrial Fibrillation, Maze Procedure (Atrial Fibrillation surgery)
University of Texas Health Science Center, 1991
Texas Heart Institute, 1993
Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine, 1984
Augusta, GA, United States
- Graduated cum laude from Harvard in 1979.
- Researched electron microscopy at Emory University in Atlanta
- Earned M.D. from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, 1984
- Completed residency in General Surgery at University of Texas – Houston Medical School, 1991
- Awarded research fellowship investigating cardiac transplantation and artificial heart technology at Cullen Cardiovascular Surgical Research Laboratory, 1986-88
- Completed residency in thoracic surgery with Dr. Denton Cooley at the Texas Heart Institute (THI), 1993
- Former Assistant Professor of Surgery at UT-Houston
- Former Associate Director of Cardiovascular Surgical Research at THI
- Published award-winning reference book, “Support and Replacement of the Failing Heart,” 1996
Beating Heart Surgery, also known as off pump coronary artery bypass graft, is a type of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) performed to relieve angina and reduce the risk of death from coronary artery disease. OPCAB eliminates the need for a heart/lung machine to keep the patient’s heart beating during bypass surgery. OPCAB has had a significant improved positive surgical outcomes and the cost-effectiveness of cardiac care, because it can significantly reduce the risk of complications that often result from conventional surgical techniques.
The terms single bypass, double bypass, etc. refer to the number of coronary arteries bypassed in the procedure. Dr. Macris will be performing a double bypass heart surgery.
The comprehensive cardiovascular program at Memorial Hermann Northwest offers access to a wide range of specialized services, clinical excellence and state-of-the-art technology. The talented heart specialists on our medical staff uphold a steadfast commitment to patients and their families by providing exceptional care.
Memorial Hermann is one of the world’s largest providers of cardiovascular care, annually performing more than 50,000 heart procedures.