I have realised that to draw the surgery process as accurately as possible, I will first need to understand some of the medical terms/processes used in my 8 stages. The terms I have researched are:

'Median Sternotomy':

A vertical inline incision is made along the sternum, after which the sternum is dived or 'cracked'.

'Bypass Graft':

Moving tissue from one site to another on the body. Vascular grafting: the use of transplanted/prosthetic blood vessels in surgical procedures.

'Stabilising devices':

Consists of a heart positioned and a tissue stabiliser. Medtronics Starfish2 and Urchin - position and hold the heart. Medtronics Octopus - tissue stabiliser: limits the motion of a small area of the heart while the rest of the heart continues to beat regularly.

'Mediastinal Space':

The mass of tissues and organs separating the two pleural sacs. Contains the heart, trachea, oesophagus, thymus, lymph nodes etc.

'Pleural Spaces':

The potential space between the two pleurae of the lungs. Outer pleurae: attached to the chest wall. Inner pleurae: covers the lungs.