By Dr. Brajmohan Singh | Senior Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgeon
If you're facing heart bypass surgery, you may have heard about different types of procedures; but chances are, you haven’t heard about BIMA. Let’s change that.
When arteries in your heart get blocked due to cholesterol or plaque (called coronary artery disease), blood can't flow properly. This increases the risk of heart attack.
Bypass surgery is a treatment where doctors create a new path (or bypass) using blood vessels from your own body to improve blood flow to the heart.
BIMA stands for Bilateral Internal Mammary Artery bypass. It uses two arteries from your chest wall to restore blood flow, instead of veins from the leg.
The internal mammary artery is the gold standard in bypass surgery because it lasts much longer, often for life. Using two of these (BIMA) gives even better results.
| Feature | BIMA Bypass | Traditional Bypass |
|---|---|---|
| Uses arteries? | Yes (2 internal chest arteries) | Mostly leg veins + 1 artery |
| Long-term success | Very High (20+ yrs) | Medium (8–10 yrs) |
| Risk of blockage returning | Very low | Moderate to high |
| Need for repeat surgery | Less likely | More common after 10 yrs |
| Surgical expertise needed | Higher | Common |
In high-risk cases (obesity, uncontrolled diabetes), a single artery plus vein may be used instead.
Yes. In expert hands, BIMA is very safe and offers similar recovery time as traditional bypass. Advanced centers report excellent outcomes long-term.
Healthy diet, exercise, and regular checkups are essential. BIMA grafts are low-maintenance and long-lasting.
BIMA is not just a different technique—it’s a better one for many. Ask your doctor about it. It might just be the long-term protection your heart needs.
Dr. Singh is one of the few cardiothoracic surgeons in the region with specialized training in BIMA and advanced procedures. He focuses on: