Heart Bypass Surgery

Bypass surgery has many alternative names including: coronary bypass surgery, heart bypass, bypass surgery, off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) or generally 'heart surgery'.

Heart surgery is a surgical procedure creating bypasses or new routes around clogged arteries to allow blood and oxygen to reach the heart.

Heart Bypass Surgery Video

Heart Disease

Coronary arteries may become clogged as a result of atherosclerosis, a vascular disease (ASVD). Coronary artery disease or coronary heart disease (CAD) is a condition in which there is a plaque build-up of fat and cholesterol on the arteries' walls. CAD, a very common heart disease weakens the heart muscle (the myocardium) and creates heart failure in which the heart does not pump enough blood throughout the body. The narrowed or blocked arteries may cause angina (chest pain or pressure or a feeling of squeezing in the chest) or a heart attack. A heart attack occurs when the blood flow to the heart muscle is completely blocked.

What is A Bypass Surgery? 

Heart disease will usually be treated first with medicine or cardiac rehabilitation Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program to help heart patients recover quickly and improve their overall physical, mental and social functioning. The goal is to stabilize, slow or even reverse the progression of cardiovascular disease, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease, another cardiac event. . When these treatment options are no longer sufficient, the doctor may recommend a bypass. CAD varies from patient to patient. Heart bypass surgery is one optional treatment. Other treatments are also available. 

Coronary Heart Disease? Vascular Heart Disease? No More!

Heart surgery bypass can relieve chest pain and reduce the risk of heart attack. It is performed to improve the blood supply to the coronary heart muscle. Single bypass, double bypass, triple bypass etc. are the number of coronary arteries bypassed during the procedure. The surgeon can estimate if a triple bypass or a multiple bypass is required based upon a coronary angiogram. Some surgeons refer to the procedure simply based on the number of bypasses performed- such as "triple bypass surgery".

A coronary angiogram or catheterization is a procedure performed for diagnostic and treatment purposes. It is a minimal invasive procedure accessing the coronary circulation using a catheter (a tube).
After bypass surgery, the survival chances of patients suffering from angina are improved.

How is a Heart Bypass Surgery Performed?

The procedure is performed under anesthesia and will start with the grafting of arteries or veins (healthy blood vessels) from the patient's body. The number of grafts depends on the number of bypasses required. The substitute blood vessels are harvested from the chest, legs, or arms.
Once the patient is unconscious, the heart surgeon will open the chest and examine the heart and aorta. There are two different methods to performe a heart bypass, an on-pump bypass and an off-pump bypass.

On-pump Heart Bypass
An on-pump procedure is the more common method used today. The technique is performed with the heart stopped and a heart-lung bypass machine connected to the body. The heart-lung machine supplies the oxygen and circulates the blood during the bypass. Once the procedure has ended, the heart is restarted.

Off-pump Heart Bypass (OPCAB)
When using the OPCAB technique the patient's heart is still beating. The surgeon will place different devices to stabilize it and they will be removed at the end of the bypass. For some patients OPCAB may reduce bleeding and additional complications.

During both on-pump and off-pump heart bypass one end of the graft is sewn to the coronary arteries beyond the blockage and the other to the aorta. When the procedure ends the patient is taken to the intensive care unit for the initial heart bypass recovery.

Post Heart Bypass and Heart Surgery Recovery

The initial bypass recovery at the ICU will take approximately 24 hours, during this time the heart rate and blood pressure is constantly monitored. The patient will then be transferred to a hospital ward for a few more observation days. During the hospital stay the patient will receive medication to regulate circulation and blood pressure, usually intravenously. 

Recovery from bypass takes time and is usually involved with cardiac rehabilitation. During the first few days the patients may feel pain and require close observation.

Heart Bypass Surgery Abroad

Having a heart disease is a serious matter, you want to have the best options available to when undergoing heart bypass surgery. TicketMed is affiliated only with the best medcal institutions in the field. We will be happy to set up a full medical heart plan for your heart treatment abroad. For quick and efficient assistance, Contact a TicketMed agent or ask for a quote.