Coronary Bypass Surgery: Ideal Candidates, Procedure and Recovery

The blood vessels that provide the heart with oxygen, nutrition, and energy are called coronary arteries. A serious narrowing or blockage of these arteries may result in a heart attack or other complications. Thus, it is crucial to maintain the heart's blood supply. In these cases, coronary bypass surgery is performed.

In this blog, we will learn about coronary bypass surgery in detail, including ideal candidates, the procedure of the surgery, and the recovery period. To help readers understand it better with proper knowledge, we have gathered information from Dr. Sujay Shad, a renowned heart doctor in Delhi. Keep reading to learn.

Understanding Coronary Bypass Surgery

When a coronary artery becomes clogged or obstructed to the point where blood flow becomes unnatural, doctors can design a bypass to restore normal blood flow. When there is complete or partial blockage of the coronary arteries, bypass surgery is done. With coronary artery bypass surgery, a blocked or partially blocked cardiac artery is bypassed by a new blood vessel. During the procedure, a healthy blood vessel from the leg or chest is removed. The blood vessels are linked beneath the clogged cardiac artery. The new pathway improves the flow of blood to the heart muscle.

Ideal Candidates for Coronary Bypass Surgery

Coronary artery bypass surgery opens a blocked heart artery and allows blood to flow through it again. In cases where other immediate treatments are not working, the surgery might be performed as an emergency heart attack treatment. If a person has any of the following conditions, the doctor may advise coronary artery bypass surgery:

1. A blockage in the left main heart artery. The heart muscle receives a large amount of blood from this artery.
2. Severe narrowing of the main heart artery.
3. Severe pain in the chest brought on by multiple heart artery narrowing. Even when the heart is at rest or only slightly exerted, the narrowing decreases blood flow to it.
4. More than one damaged coronary artery and poor function of the left lower chamber of the heart.
5. A heart artery blockage that is unresponsive to coronary angioplasty treatment. This minimally invasive procedure enlarges the artery by using a balloon at the end of a thin tube known as a catheter. To keep the artery open, a tiny coil known as a stent is usually utilized.
6. An angioplasty with or without a stent that hasn't worked. For instance, following stenting, an artery narrowed once again.

What is the Coronary Bypass Surgery Procedure?

When a patient has multiple bypasses, complex vascular disease, or other underlying medical conditions like diabetes, heart bypass surgery is the recommended course of treatment. 

An open bypass procedure has the following stages: 

1. General Anesthesia: An anesthesiologist will put the patient to sleep with a general anesthesia to make him ready for surgery and insert a breathing tube into the patient's windpipe.
2. Graft Vessel Harvesting: The patient's leg, arm, or chest will be used by surgeons to remove the vessels that are needed for the procedure.
3. Incision and Opening: To reach the patient's heart, the surgeon will cut an incision in the middle of their chest and separate their sternum. At this point, they will momentarily stop the heart from beating.
4. Cardiopulmonary Bypass: Doctors may place a person on cardiopulmonary bypass. In order to do this, the patient must be hooked up to a machine that will operate their heart and lungs. This bypass does not have to be used for every surgery.
5. Grafting: To reroute blood flow, surgeons will affix the new graft vessels to both sides of the blockages.
6. Restoring Blood Flow: If cardiopulmonary bypass is required, doctors will remove it and verify that blood is passing through the grafted vessel as intended.
7. Closure: The surgeons will use metal wires to secure the sternum and suture up the incision site after verifying that blood is flowing through the graft. The patient will be admitted to an intensive care unit in order to heal.

Usually, the process takes three to six hours. However, this can change based on the number of grafts an individual needs.

Recovery After Surgery

1. First 3-5 days

The majority of patients begin to walk to the bathroom and based on a variety of clinical factors, they may be moved to the ward or SICU. During this time, patients are gradually becoming more independent in meeting their own needs, even though nurses and doctors are always present.

2. Initial Evaluation following a Week

A CXR, an ECG, and a few blood tests are necessary for this clinic visit. Most patients are able to increase their exercise by going for short walks in the nearby parks.

3. One Month Following Surgery

It takes about two months for people in employment to regain strength; most independent workers who have control over their schedules have returned to work by this point.

Conclusion

During a coronary bypass procedure, a blood vessel from the arms, legs, or chest is cut out and used to create a bypass or detour around the blockage in the coronary artery. This enables blood to reach the heart again. Heart bypass surgery lowers the risk of death and heart attack and is a relatively safe and effective procedure. Additionally, the procedure may lessen chest pain, which is one of the symptoms of coronary artery disease. 

If one is concerned about the surgery or the bypass surgery cost in Delhi, they may consult with Dr. Sujay Shad at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital. The coronary bypass surgery at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital starts at Rs. 3,55,000. Dr. Shad is one of the most well known heart doctors and has delivered many successful surgeries at very reasonable prices. To get the benefits, consult the doctor now!