There are several advantages to make a bypass using the ELANA Technique.
- During surgery, the less the brain is jostled or moved, the better the recovery for the patient. ELANA allows your surgeon to treat the diseased blood vessels without excessive manipulation of delicate brain tissue. With ELANA, the surgeon requires a little bit less operating space.
- Before the advent of the ELANA Technique, the conventional procedure of performing a bypass required a period of temporary closure of the diseased artery. This temporary vessel occlusion allowed the surgeon to make a small slit in the side of the artery (i.e., arteriotomy), so that the bypass graft could be stitched onto the edges of the opening. Temporary occlusion times between 30 to 60 minutes were required to perform the bypass stitching. This prolonged occlusion time increased the risk of reduced oxygen concentration in the brain, thus increasing the risk for stroke damage.
- A significant portion of the complications associated with the conventional bypass operation is thought to be related to the temporary occlusion time. During the occlusion time required with the conventional bypass, a significant section of the brain may be left without sufficient blood flow. This reduction in blood flow and oxygen delivery can result in a stroke or brain injury. When a brain area is not being supplied with necessary oxygen-rich blood, the condition produced is called ischemia. It is this “ischemic time” that may be significantly reduced or eliminated by using ELANA. By eliminating this risk, potential complications associated with bypass surgery may be significantly reduced.