Innovative heart surgery unveiled in Scotland

"A pioneering technique which could save thousands of patients from having heart surgery has been performed in Scotland for the first time by one of the world's leading cardiologists. The method of opening blocked arteries, which was devised in Japan, was demonstrated to dozens of doctors from across the country at the Golden Jubilee Hospital in Clydebank. A 69-year-old man was the patient used on Wednesday to demonstrate the new technique. He was suffering from chronic total occlusion, which means a blocked artery. Instead of having to undergo bypass surgery, which could mean up to ten days in hospital and three months recovery, the new procedure could mean the man will go home on Thursday and back to normal by the end of the week. The man was wide awake as one of the world's leading cardiologists, Professor Masahiko Ochiai, inserted tiny wires into his leg and up to his heart. Two hours later, the operation was finished and was hailed a complete success" - STV