Heart Bypass Surgery is a cardiac procedure used to improve the blood flow to the heart in case of serious cardiac pathologies such as blockage of the coronary arteries, the arteries responsible for supplying oxygenated blood to the heart. Blood vessels from another body area are used to bypass damaged arteries so that the blood flow is restored and the cardiac function goes on smoothly.
What are the different types of heart bypass surgery?
Depending on how many of the coronary arteries are blocked and the extent of the blockage, your doctor may recommend a particular type of bypass surgery for you.
If a single coronary artery is blocked, a single bypass is recommended. A double bypass is recommended if two arteries are blocked, and a triple bypass is recommended if three cardiac arteries are blocked or narrowed. The number of blocked arteries determines your risk of heart attack, heart failure, or any other cardiac issue. The more the number of blockages, the more complex the surgery and the longer it takes for the procedure.
Why does a person need heart bypass surgery?
When there is a material called plaque accumulation in your blood vessels, the blood flow to the cardiac muscles is interrupted. A coronary artery disease of this type is called atherosclerosis. The heart can become exhausted and stop working if there is inadequate blood flow. Apart from affecting the arteries supplying the heart, this condition can affect arteries in any body area. A heart bypass surgery may be recommended if the heart arteries narrow to the point that the risk of heart attack is very high. Another condition where bypass surgery is recommended is when the obstruction is so severe that it can’t be managed with medications or other conservative treatments.
How do the doctors decide that heart bypass surgery is needed?
A team of healthcare providers, including a cardiologist, evaluate your condition and decide whether an open-heart surgery will suit you. However, some medical conditions can make surgery complicated or even impossible.
Some conditions that can result in complications include emphysema, diabetes, and peripheral arterial disease (PAD). You will be evaluated for all these conditions before the decision for bypass surgery is made. You should also share your history of intake of over-the-counter medications and other prescription drugs with your doctor. The outcome of a planned coronary bypass surgery is much better than an emergency one.
How to prepare for a heart bypass surgery?
If you have been scheduled for coronary artery bypass surgery, you will be given complete instructions about how to prepare yourself for the surgery. If the surgery is planned rather than an emergency procedure, you will be given proper instructions on how to prepare yourself for it. You will also be scheduled for several post-operative appointments where you will be asked about your family medical history and other associated medical conditions. Your doctor will also run some tests to get a clear picture of your health. These tests may include a Chest X-ray, blood tests, angiogram, and electrocardiogram.
Precautions that should be taken by patients scheduled for heart bypass surgery
- Share a complete history of all the medications you are taking, especially those that affect the way your blood clots. For example, many heart medications and painkillers affect blood clotting, so you might need to stop taking them. Therefore, it is better to take all the medications you are currently taking with you to the appointment so that your doctor can take a look at those and decide if you need to stop taking them or adjust the dosage.
- Quit smoking: Smoking is very bad for heart health and lengthens the healing time. So, if you smoke, please quit.
- Share your history of flu or cold with your doctor. This is because the flu can put stress on the heart and increase the risk of worsening heart failure or heart attack. It can also result in pericarditis, myocarditis, or both. These are life-threatening heart infections.
- You will have to stay in the hospital for several days after the coronary bypass surgery. So, you should make arrangements and plan your schedule accordingly.
- Wash your whole body with an antiseptic soap the night before the surgery to reduce the risk of infection by rendering your body germ-free until surgery.
- Practice fasting, including not drinking water from midnight before the surgery.
Conclusion
Having to undergo heart bypass surgery can be a stressful situation for everyone. The best you can do is to gain thorough knowledge about your heart’s condition, how to lower the risks of your surgery, and take care before and after it. Max Healthcare’s expert team of doctors will let you know the specific steps you might need to take to alleviate complications based on your medical records and associated health conditions.
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