CHRISTUS Ochsner St. Patrick now offers new innovative minimally invasive heart surgery

CHRISTUS Ochsner St. Patrick Hospital now offers a minimally invasive and groundbreaking heart surgery to treat blockage in the coronary arteries.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in men and women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease.

Traditionally, surgeons must access a patient’s heart by cracking the sternum. However, the minimally invasive cardiac surgery coronary artery bypass graft is a revolutionary technique allowing surgeons to operate on the heart through a small incision in the rib cage.

“The incision is three inches, eliminating the need for the patients to be placed on a heart-lung bypass machine,” said Dr. Daniel Beckles, cardiothoracic surgeon at CHRISTUS Ochsner St. Patrick Hospital. “This means the patient’s heart continues beating on its own during the operation.”

Beckles said the procedure lasts two to three hours and patients can go home the next day.

“When we are able to use this approach, patients recover quicker and can go home to their families,” he said. “This specific heart surgery also significantly reduces the risk of complications during the procedure.”

Michael Miller, a Lake Charles resident, was the first patient to receive this minimally invasive procedure at CHRISTUS Ochsner St. Patrick Hospital. Due to the urgency of his condition, he required immediate surgery and underwent the procedure with Beckles.

“You don’t realize how scary needing immediate medical attention can be until it’s happening,” Miller said. “However, I couldn’t be more pleased with Dr. Beckles and his team’s ability to ease those fears while performing the operation that saved my life.”

The surgery marks a significant milestone for the Lake Charles community and CHRISTUS Ochsner St. Patrick as it expands the hospital’s range of advanced cardiac services.

"We are thrilled to now offer this as an option for patients who qualify and are in need of heart surgery," Beckles said. "This procedure exemplifies our dedication to delivering exceptional care and ensuring the best possible outcomes for our patients."