Coronary artery bypass is surgery to treat coronary artery disease. It helps blood make a detour, or bypass, around one or more narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. These arteries are the blood vessels that bring blood to the heart muscle. This is also called coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) or bypass surgery.
Your doctor will make the bypass with a healthy piece of blood vessel from another part of your body. Then the doctor will attach, or graft, the healthy blood vessel to the narrowed or blocked artery. The new blood vessel bypasses the diseased artery to increase blood flow to the heart muscle.
The doctor typically makes a cut in the skin over your breastbone (sternum). This cut is called an incision. Then the doctor will cut through your sternum to reach your heart and coronary arteries. The doctor may connect you to a heart-lung bypass machine. It adds oxygen to the blood and moves the blood through the body. The machine will allow the doctor to stop your heartbeat while working on your arteries. The doctor will use blood vessels from your chest, arm, or leg to bypass the narrowed or blocked parts of your arteries. When the blood vessels are in place, the doctor will restart your heart. In some cases, the doctor may be able to do the surgery without using a heart-lung machine. This is called "off-pump" surgery.
The doctor may use wire to put your sternum back together. Stitches or staples will be used to close the incisions in the skin over your sternum and where your healthy blood vessel was taken. The wire will stay in your chest. The incisions will leave scars. They may fade with time.
You will stay in the hospital for a few days after surgery. You will probably be able to do many of your usual activities after 4 to 6 weeks. But for at least 6 weeks you will avoid lifting heavy objects and doing things that strain your chest or upper arm muscles. At first you may notice that you get tired quickly. You may need to rest often. It may take 1 to 2 months before your energy is back to normal.
Coronary artery bypass graft surgery is done to go around a portion of an artery that has been narrowed or blocked by plaque buildup (atherosclerosis). It is a treatment for coronary artery disease.
The narrowed or blocked portion of the artery is bypassed using a blood vessel taken from elsewhere in the body (usually the chest or leg). Blood is redirected through the new blood vessel, restoring blood flow to the affected portion of the heart muscle.
Bypass surgery:
You will go to the intensive care unit (ICU) after surgery. You will probably stay in the ICU for 1 or 2 days before you go to your regular hospital room. In the ICU, you will likely have:
You will stay in the hospital for at least a few days after the surgery. You will feel tired and sore for the first few weeks. Your chest, shoulders, and upper back may ache. These symptoms usually get better in 4 to 6 weeks. It may take 1 to 2 months before your energy level is back to normal. You may have some swelling or pain in the area where the healthy blood vessel was taken.
You will probably be able to do many of your usual activities after 4 to 6 weeks. But for at least 6 weeks, you'll avoid lifting heavy objects and doing activities that strain your chest or upper arm muscles.
After surgery, have a heart-healthy lifestyle. This lifestyle can help lower your risk of a heart attack or stroke. It also can help the bypass last as long as possible. To have a heart-healthy lifestyle:
Smoking can make it harder for you to recover. It will raise the chances of your arteries getting narrowed or blocked again. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about stop-smoking programs and medicines. These can increase your chances of quitting for good.
You may start a cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) program in the hospital. This program will continue after you go home. It will help you recover. And it can prevent future problems with your heart. Talk to your doctor about whether rehab is right for you.
Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is surgery to treat coronary artery disease. The surgery helps blood make a detour, or bypass, around one or more narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. Coronary arteries are the blood vessels that bring blood to the heart muscle. Your doctor did the surgery through a cut, called an incision, in your chest.
You will feel tired and sore for the first few weeks after surgery. You may have some brief, sharp pains on either side of your chest. Your chest, shoulders, and upper back may ache. These symptoms usually get better after 4 to 6 weeks. The incision in your chest and the area where the healthy blood vessel was taken may be sore or swollen.
You will probably be able to do many of your usual activities after 4 to 6 weeks. But for at least 6 weeks, you'll avoid lifting heavy objects and doing activities that strain your chest or upper arm muscles. At first you may notice that you get tired easily and need to rest often. It may take 1 to 2 months to get your energy back.
Some people find that they are more emotional after this surgery. You may cry easily or show emotion in ways that are unusual for you. This is common and may last for up to a year. Some people get depressed after the surgery. Talk with your doctor if you have sadness that continues or you are concerned about how you are feeling. Treatment and other support can help you feel better.
Even though the surgery may improve your symptoms, you will still follow a heart-healthy lifestyle to help lower your risk of a heart attack or stroke. It will be important to eat a heart-healthy diet, get regular exercise, stay at a healthy weight, manage other health problems, take your medicines, and not smoke.
You may start a cardiac rehabilitation (rehab) program in the hospital. You will continue with this rehab program after you go home to help you recover and prevent problems with your heart. Talk to your doctor about whether rehab is right for you.
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery reroutes blood around narrowed or blocked arteries, increasing blood flow to the heart muscle tissue.
Bypass surgery is most often done as an open-heart surgery. The surgeon makes a vertical incision in the skin and muscle in the middle of the chest and then cuts through the breastbone (sternum).
The surgeon spreads the rib cage with a retractor to expose the heart and then cuts through the lining that protects the heart (pericardium).
To reroute blood flow around the diseased blood vessel, surgeons use a blood vessel taken from another part of your body. For example, the saphenous vein from the leg or an internal mammary artery from the chest may be used.
Regardless of which type of blood vessel is used, oxygen-rich blood from the aorta is rerouted around the narrowed or blocked section of the coronary artery to improve blood flow to the heart muscle.
Bypass surgery is done to treat a heart attack and coronary artery disease. Surgery might be an option for many reasons. These reasons include the following:
Whether surgery is an option for you also depends on your age, your health, and how much your angina is affecting your quality of life. Your doctor is likely to recommend bypass surgery only if you will benefit from it and if those benefits are greater than the risks. You and your doctor can work together to decide if you want to have surgery.
Surgery can be stressful. This information will help you understand what you can expect. And it will help you safely prepare for surgery.
The risks during or soon after bypass surgery include:
The chances of having a serious problem with bypass surgery increase with age. Your risk is also higher if you have other problems such as diabetes, kidney disease, lung disease, or peripheral arterial disease. Your doctor can help you understand what your risk for problems is.
Coronary artery bypass surgery is a surgery to treat coronary artery disease. The surgery helps blood make a detour, or bypass, around one or more narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. Coronary arteries are the blood vessels that bring blood to the heart. The surgery is also called bypass surgery or coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).
Your doctor will make a bypass using a piece of blood vessel from another part of your body. Your doctor will attach, or graft, this blood vessel above and below the narrowed or blocked section of your artery.
After surgery, a heart-healthy lifestyle can help you stay healthy and prevent problems. You'll also take medicines. These things help lower your risk of heart attack and stroke.
To have a heart-healthy lifestyle, eat healthy foods, get regular exercise, stay at a healthy weight, take your medicines, manage other health problems, and don't smoke.
Your doctor may suggest that you attend a cardiac rehab program. This type of program provides education and support to help you recover and prevent problems with your heart. Cardiac rehab helps you keep a heart-healthy lifestyle.
You will likely take medicines that prevent blood clots, lower cholesterol, and manage blood pressure. Along with a heart-healthy lifestyle, these medicines can help you get the most benefit from this surgery.
Call 911 anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:
Call your doctor now or seek immediate medical care if:
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if:
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Exploring your emotions after coronary artery bypass surgery
It can be helpful to think about how your emotions might affect your recovery after coronary artery bypass surgery. Exploring what you're feeling can go a long way toward helping your body heal. Here's how.
You're likely to feel physically sore and tired. But you may also feel mental pain and exhaustion. It's okay to feel this way. It's part of the healing process.
For example, you may find yourself crying easily or feeling frustrated. It's very common for this to happen. Many people are surprised by the power of their feelings.
You may think you have to hide what you're feeling from your friends and family. But reaching out to people for support makes a difference.
People want to help support you and show they care, but they may be waiting for you to open up. So go ahead. It's okay to talk about what you're feeling. It may be your most important step to getting better.
Connecting with others can help you feel stronger. Even though you may wish you could do everything yourself, the support of other people may be exactly what you really need right now.
It might be helpful to think about and write down: