In the future will they still have to do open heart surgery?

Question

Is there a less traumatic equivalent to open heart surgery on the horizon. If so, when will it become standard practice. I am hoping in the future we will just have to take a pill or something to clean out the arteries.

Answer 1

There are several new minimally-invasive techniques for bypass surgery in use today, and they do avoid some of the risks of traditional open heart surgery. I think there will always be a place for open heart surgery because there are some things you just can't do through a tiny scope, but these new techniques are a big improvement. Here is a web site with a little bit of information about them:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007012.htm

As for a pill to clean out the arteries...that would be truly revolutionary. The closest you can get at this point is to reduce your risk factors as much as possible through diet, exercise, and not smoking. Coronary artery disease can be reversed, but it takes a big commitment to a very healthy lifestyle.

Answer 2

There is nothing in the pipeline that even comes close to a pill that will clear plaque from arteries. Arteries are not the only cardiac problems that require medical treatment through various procedures or surgery, there are many heart disease besides plaque in the arteries.
If people continue to abuse their bodies they will continue to die prematurely.
A healthy diet, low in fat,with plenty of fruit and vegetables and low carbohydrates, with aerobic exercise, maintaining your weight,not smoking,limiting alchohol intake, avoiding caffeine and trying to lower stress in your life is about as close as you will come to a magic bullet for heart disease.