Your heart is the chief primary pump of your body, its main function being to pump and circulate oxygenated blood all through your body and deoxygenated blood back to the lungs for removal. The heart can be affected by blockage of either the incoming or outgoing vessels of the heart. A blockage of these vessels is a possible indication for heart bypass surgery.
Are coronary artery bypass graft surgery (or CABG) and heart bypass surgery same ?
A coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is the medical name for heart bypass surgery. According to the American Heart Association or the AHA, the procedure involves surgically removing a blood vessel from the legs, arms or chest and utilizing it to generate a detour or bypass around the blockage. This will allow for the blood flow to reach the heart again.
When is a heart bypass surgery indicated ?
If you have blockage in one or two coronary arteries, a coronary angioplasty is recommended. If you have blockages in three or more coronary arteries, your cardiologist is likely to recommend bypass surgery.
What does heart bypass surgery involve ?
A coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) works on the principle of GRAFTS- arteries or veins from other parts of your body and using these grafts as alternative pathways to redirect the blood around the blocked artery. Either a single or numerous grafts could be needed, depending on how many coronary arteries are choked-up.
How major is a heart bypass surgery ?
As compared to a coronary angioplasty, which is still a relatively minor surgical procedure, bypass graft surgery or open heart surgery are major surgical procedures. All these surgeries are to be done by a cardiothoracic surgeon or a cardiologist.
How is a heart bypass surgery done ?
The surgery will take approximately 3-4 hours and is a procedure done under general anaesthesia. After a long incision is made in the chest, the surgeon pries open the rib cage to expose the heart. Blood flow is diverted through a cardiopulmonary bypass machine (popularly known as the “heart-lung machine”) that is linked to provide oxygen to the blood, and supply this blood to your aorta for the rest of your body while the surgeon operates on your heart. The surgeon harvests the artery and the veins from the legs, arms or chest and then creates a conduit bypassing the blocked arteries.
How is a heart bypass surgery done ?
After the coronary bypass surgery, symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath which were due to reduced blood flow to the heart, usually improve. For some people, coronary bypass surgery may restore good heart function and diminish the risk of dying of heart disease.
What are the side- effects that can result from heart bypass surgery ?
Side effects can include discomfort, itching, or pain at the surgical site. Swelling and pain can occur in the area where the artery or vein was taken to graft. There can be muscle pain or shoulder and upper back tightness.
What is the care to be taken after a heart bypass surgery ?
It requires a dedicated change in lifestyle and rehabilitative exercises to help recover full heart function. Medicines are to be taken after coronary bypass surgery to lower the blood cholesterol, reduce the risk of developing a blood clot by thinning blood and helping heart function.
When can you resume activities after heart bypass surgery ?
If you are worrying about how soon you can get on with your normal activities, you can slowly start over the period of 6 to 8 weeks, post surgery. Your cardiologist will formulate a program for you to regain your strength and stamina for activities, slowly but surely. Follow your doctor’s instructions to the dot, to keep yourself healthy, regarding medicines and physical activity.
How to find heart surgeons for heart bypass surgery ?
Now you can find and reach heart surgeons for heart bypass surgery from different hospitals and destinations on a single platform, Hinfoways. You can avail opinions and information from multiple heart surgeons, get cost estimates for heart bypass surgery from different heart hospitals, compare things and then choose a heart surgeon for heart bypass surgery.
Find, reach and choose a heart surgeon for heart bypass surgery on Hinfoways. Make an informed choice.
Disclaimer: The content provided here is meant for general informational purposes only and hence SHOULD NOT be relied upon as a substitute for sound professional medical advice, care or evaluation by a qualified doctor/physician or other relevantly qualified healthcare provider.