Heart Bypass (CABG) Surgery in Hyderabad

CABG Procedure Details

What Happens Before the Surgery?

The surgeon will give you a detailed rundown of the surgery prior to the actual bypass surgery. After taking consent, your medical history will be reviewed. You should not eat for at least 8 hours before the surgery. The hospital may perform a pre-operative screening test.

General anaesthesia will be administered before starting the bypass surgery. After securing the intravenous access and putting in a catheter to drain the bladder, an incision is made in the leg or arm to remove a small portion of the vein to prepare a graft. Next, an incision is made on the chest to place the graft.

Steps Involved in During the CABG Surgery:

Making the Incision and Gaining Access: The surgeon makes a long incision on the chest through the center of the breastbone and splits the ribcage to access the heart.

Heart-Lung Bypass (On-Pump CABG): After reaching this phase, the surgeon may or may not use a heart-lung bypass machine (off-pump CABG or on-pump CABG) to take over the heart’s pumping function, thus allowing the heart to be temporarily stopped.

Harvesting the Graft(s): Firstly, the surgeon confirms the suitability of the veins from the chest (internal thoracic vein) or the leg (saphenous) and then removes and prepares them for the grafts.

Creating the Bypass: Subsequently, one end of the graft is attached to the coronary artery above the blockage, and the other end is attached just below the blockage and sewn to ensure proper blood flow, thus creating a new pathway for blood flow.

Restoring Heart Function: Once the latter is completed, normal functions are triggered using electrical stimulation, and the heart-lung bypass machine is turned off if attached.

Closure: The breastbone is either clamped or wired back in, and the incision is sealed with sutures.

Post-operative Phase of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG):

Initial Recovery Phase:

• Patients are required to stay in the hospital for 2-3 days right after the surgery for the initial heart bypass surgery recovery time.
• The surgeon monitors the heart and blood pressure and regulates the breathing.
• The appliances are removed gradually as the patient improves.
• Subsequently, the breathing tubes are taken out of the patient’s mouth, and they regain the ability to breathe independently.
• Once the patient can tolerate eating orally, the IV and feeding tubes are removed.
• Finally, a chest tube is inserted to drain the fluid and is usually removed within a few days.

Mid Recovery Phase:

• This phase usually occurs under the cardiac rehabilitation program, where the goal is to strengthen the heart muscles and enhance cardiovascular functions for 4-6 weeks after the surgery.
• Light walking promotes circulation but should be done within comfort limits.
• The surgeons encourage the patients to resume their physical activity gradually and increase the ones they are already performing.
• Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activities for several weeks.
• Smoking and alcohol should be restricted as they interfere with the healing process.
• Watch for signs of complications, such as fatigue, mood swings, loss of appetite, and difficulty sleeping.
• The wound care instructions, along with compression dressing, are given by the surgeons to compensate for the swelling.

Final Recovery Phase:

• Patients, after three months of recovery, experience improved stamina, reduced chest pain, improved body energy levels, and fewer mood swings.
• Focus on a healthy diet that includes fruits, whole grains, vegetables, and a low-sodium diet, and limit the consumption of fatty foods.
• Take the prescriptions as prescribed by the surgeons.
• Attend follow-up appointments.

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Benefits of Having Heart Bypass Surgery (CABG):

• Relieves persistent symptoms like breathing difficulties and chest pain.
• Restores the supply of oxygen by improving blood flow to the heart.
• Prevents the risk of heart attacks.
• An improved course of treatment for multiple blockages following the failure of medication and angioplasty.
• Enhances survival rates by improving cardiac function.
• Improved quality of life.

When to Pay a Visit to Your Doctor?

• It is crucial to follow up at our Yashoda Hospitals once a week for regular checkups to monitor progress and graft assessment and address any other concerns. 
• You may also visit your cardiologist every 2-4 weeks for ongoing monitoring and medication adjustments, if needed.
• A must-visit to your primary care physician once a month to ensure any potential side effects or other health conditions are being addressed

Risks and complications of the Bypass Surgery

Because Heart Bypass is major surgery, it has some risks. Some of the most common complications associated with this surgery are bleeding, arrhythmia, renal dysfunction, stroke, infection of the chest wound and heart attack. The chances of developing any of the abovementioned risks are usually low. However, the outcome of the surgery depends on the patient’s condition before the surgery.

Insurance Assistance For CABG