Chennai: A 92-year-old patient underwent a beating heart four-vessel bypass and pacemaker implantation in a single surgery at SIMS Hospital, Chennai.
SIMS Hospital, a multi-speciality facility in the city, performed the procedure on a nonagenarian with coronary blockages, highlighting that even elderly patients in good health can undergo complex cardiac surgeries. The surgery was uneventful, and the patient, a retired gynaecologist, was discharged seven days after the operation following a three-day ICU stay.
A beating heart coronary bypass (also called off-pump coronary artery bypass) is a type of heart surgery where the bypass is performed without stopping the heart.
Instead of using a heart-lung machine, the heart continues to beat while stabilising equipment is used to keep the area still. This method is often preferred in older patients or those with conditions such as diabetes, kidney issues, or lung disease, as it helps reduce complications and can lead to quicker recovery.
In this case, the patient had borderline diabetes but was otherwise in good health. Being a doctor himself, he was well-informed about the benefits and risks of the procedure, which helped him make a confident decision.
The surgery was performed by Dr V V Bashi, Director & Senior Consultant at the Institute of Cardiac & Advanced Aortic Diseases, SIMS. Dr Bashi has performed over 20,000 heart surgeries in a career spanning 45 years and is known for his work in beating heart bypass and arterial grafting in coronary artery disease.
Commenting on the procedure, Dr Ravi Pachamuthu, Chairman, SIMS Hospital, said, "This landmark procedure is more than just a clinical success — it is a statement of what modern Indian healthcare can achieve. At SIMS, we are committed to pushing boundaries in patient care through innovation, expertise, and an uncompromising focus on safety. Successfully performing a beating heart bypass along with a pacemaker implantation on a 92-year-old patient is testimony to the excellence of our surgical team and the strength of our integrated care model. We don’t just treat diseases, we restore hope, dignity, and life, even in the most challenging of cases. This is the future of healthcare, and we’re proud to be leading it from Chennai."
Dr Bashi said, "In four and a half decades of my surgical career, this case stands out as one of the most fulfilling. Performing a beating heart coronary bypass along with a pacemaker implantation on a 92-year-old patient is rare — not just for the complexity involved, but because it reflects the advancement of cardiac care available today. The patient had multiple risk factors, including coronary artery disease and a slow heart rhythm, which required two different treatments. Our ability to combine both in a single stage, uneventful surgery, speaks volumes of the multidisciplinary expertise at SIMS, the precision of our intra-operative planning, and the post-operative care protocols we have in place. Our multidisciplinary expertise comprises senior cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Idhrees, Cardiac Anesthetist headed by Dr Aju Jacob, our cardiac specialist nurses, perfusionists, and technical staff. Age is no longer a barrier when science, skill, and spirit come together."
The patient said, "As a doctor, I was fully aware of the risks involved, but what gave me the confidence was the clarity with which my condition was explained and the trust I felt in Dr Bashi and his team. At 92, most people would hesitate but not for me and Dr Bashi as well didn’t see age as a limitation. From diagnosis to surgery and recovery, everything was seamless. Today, I walk out not just with a stronger heart, but with a renewed belief in modern medicine and compassionate healthcare."
