Coronary Artery Bypass

Overview and Facts about Coronary Artery Bypass

Coronary artery bypass is a type of cardiac surgery that helps improve blood flow to the heart. This surgery is also known as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). CABG is often used to treat coronary artery disease.

This disease causes plaque buildup inside your arteries. Over time, plaque deposits can block blood flow. People with coronary artery disease are at higher risk for heart attacks and strokes.

CABG procedures connect a healthy artery to a blocked artery. During the operation, your surgeon grafts the healthy artery to the blocked one which creates a new passage. This passage improves blood flow throughout the heart.

What to Expect during Coronary Artery Bypass

Your doctor will perform an in-depth cardiac assessment to determine if a CABG procedure is right for you. Your surgeon will review these test results and recommend your treatment options, choosing the procedure that's right for you. Your surgeon may recommend multiple heart procedures.

Some patients may receive several procedures on the same day. Others may need follow-up procedures. Cardiac surgery occurs at a hospital. It begins with your medical team administering anesthesia so you will sleep through the procedure.

Next, you will be connected to a heart-lung machine. Often, open heart surgery will be required in CABG. During this type of surgery, the surgeon briefly stops your heart to graft the healthy artery to the blocked one, creating a new passage. This passage improves blood flow throughout the heart.

After the procedure, your surgeon will then restart your heart. Not all CABG procedures use heart-lung machines. Some are minimally invasive and use a robotic-assisted system for added precision. Your surgeon will let you know if these surgical techniques are an option for you.

After the surgery is complete, you will rest in a recovery room. Some patients stay in the intensive care unit (ICU) for further observation. Most patients remain at the hospital for several days before returning home to finish their recovery.

What are the Side Effects of Coronary Artery Bypass?

During your recovery, you may experience:

• Chest pain or tightness
• Constipation
• Fatigue
• Mood swings or depression
• Loss of appetite
• Soreness or itching around incisions

These side effects usually disappear within a few weeks. After your surgery, your doctor will schedule several follow-up appointments to check your progress.

Be sure to let your doctor know if these side effects persist. Most patients can return to their normal activities after four to six weeks, but if you have a physically demanding job, you may need to stay home for up to 12 weeks.

What are the Risks of Coronary Artery Bypass?

Most patients recover well from their CABG procedures, but some may experience:

• Bleeding
• Blood clots
• Heart attack
• Infections
• Stroke

Older adults and people in poor health may be at a higher risk of complications. Your surgeon can help you weigh these risks and make a treatment decision.

Keep in mind that untreated coronary artery disease can be lifethreatening. If you delay treatment, you may eventually need emergency surgery. Preventive CABG procedures are less risky than emergency procedures.