Open heart surgery can be performed in two ways. In an on-pump surgery, the heart is temporarily stopped while you are connected to a heart-lung bypass machine. However, in an off-pump surgery, the heart keeps beating during the surgery.
When the heart stops, it stops pumping blood throughout the body. All brain activity is believed to cease by about three to four minutes from the time the heart stops due to lack of oxygen
Yes, a person can get a heart attack without cardiac arrest. Heart attacks occur due to a blockage in the coronary arteries. However, heart attacks can sometimes lead to sudden cardiac arrest.