Important Facts to Know about Heart Bypass Surgery

Heart bypass surgery is done to relieve the angina (chest discomfort) and to reduce the risk of a heart attack.  When coronary arteries (arteries that supply blood to your heart) become blocked or damaged, your heart doesn’t get enough blood which can even lead to heart attack & repeated heart attack can weaken heart leading to heart failure at later stage. In a heart bypass surgery, blood vessels are taken from another area of your body (such as your leg, arm or chest) to create a bypass, for blood and oxygen to go around a blocked artery to reach your heart.

It’s important to note that coronary bypass surgery can ease the symptoms associated with the disease such as angina and breathlessness. But it can’t cure the medical condition that caused the blockage for which patient needs to take medicines after surgery therefore for Diabetes Mellitus or cholesterol or Blood pressure. For all patients it can improve the heart function and reduce the risk of them dying from heart failure.

Noticing the symptoms associated with Angina? Looking for a cardiologist in Siliguri?

Visit the Department of Cardiology & Cardio Thoracic and Vascular surgery at Neotia Getwel Healthcare Centre. The Centre is backed by advanced technologies including Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Coronary Care Units, and an experienced team including some of the best cardiologists in Siliguri, Cardio Thoracic & Vascular Surgeons.

Who may need heart bypass surgery?

When a waxy substance known as plaque deposits on your arterial walls, the blood flow to the heart is affected which may lead to heart attack. You may need a heart bypass surgery if several of your arteries are severely narrowed or blocked. You may also need a bypass surgery when medication and angioplasty fail.

Your cardiologist will ask you to run a couple of diagnostic tests or procedures. Based on the test results, the cardiologist will determine how serious your heart disease is and how many of your arteries are blocked and where the arteries are narrowed. Depending on the same a CABG may be advised and you will be referred to a Cardiac Surgeon.

How long does coronary bypass surgery take?

It takes between 4 and 6 hours and is done under general anesthesia.

What happens during the surgery?

For general anesthesia, a breathing tube is inserted through the mouth and then into the airway. During the surgery your heart keeps beating (beating heart surgery), a blood vessel, called a graft, is removed from another part of your body. One end of it is attached to your aorta, the largest artery in the body and the other end is attached to an artery below the blockage.

What happens after the surgery?

You’ll be in an intensive care unit (ICU) with supporting ventilator care & vital parameter will be monitored. The Ventilator support will be removed after a few hours when you can start breathing on your own. After initial 1 to 2 days you will be shifted to a ward once you are stable & do not require continuous monitoring. You’ll stay there for about 4-5 days before you can be discharged from hospital.