Heart bypass surgery is the most frequently performed surgery in the United States. It is done when the coronary arteries providing nutrients and oxygen to the heart become clogged due to a buildup of fat and cholesterol. This does not allow the heart to receive adequate blood supply, and therefore causes chest pain and leads to Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). This can eventually lead to chest pain or a heart attack. Through heart bypass surgery, doctors can reroute of bypass these clogged arteries to allow adequate blood and oxygen flow to the heart.
The Procedure
In order to perform a heart bypass surgery, surgeons take a healthy blood vessel from another part of the body and use it to create a detour to around the clogged artery and into the heart. These blood vessels are usually taken from the chest wall or the saphenous vein in the leg. Using the internal mammary artery from the chest wall is advantageous because it can stay open for many years longer than vein grafts from the leg. However, this technique cannot be used in many situations. The radial artery in the hand has also been used lately, as it can be removed from the hand without any impairment to the hand. This technique is less common.
Traditionally, the bypass patient is connected to a pump oxygenator, also known as a heart-lung machine. This is used to add oxygen to the blood during the surgery and to circulate blood to the rest of the body. Recently, many surgeons have begun performing heart bypass surgeries without the pump. The heart continues to beat without the heart-lung machine as the bypass graft is being sewn into place. This is done with some patients because it can reduce the risk of need for blood transfusion, intraoperative bleeding, and complications during and after surgery.
After the Surgery
Heart bypass patients are moved into an intensive care unit after surgery, and usually remain in the hospital for three to five days. Heart rate and blood pressure are continuously monitored for twelve to twenty-four hours. The patient is hooked up to an intravenous unit (IV) through which medication is often administered.
If the saphenous vein is used, it is often common for the leg to swell after surgery. This usually subsides within a few days and can be treated by elevating the leg. Parts of the body through which incisions are made will often be sore, and patients may take painkillers as needed.
Additionally, the patient may experience a loss of appetite, fatigue, mood swings, depression, constipation, muscle tension or soreness for four to six weeks after being released from the hospital. It may take months to fully recover, and patients are often enrolled in a cardiac rehabilitation program. Patients are advised to eat foods that contain less fat and cholesterol in addition to maintaining healthy exercise and physical activity to ensure a proper recovery.
Conclusion
Heart bypass surgery is done when arteries supplying blood and oxygen to the heart become clogged with plaque from fats and cholesterol. It involves using arteries from other parts of the body in order to bypass the clogged arteries and restore oxygen and blood flow to the heart. A heart bypass surgery is a strenuous surgery on the body and recovery may often be long and difficult. It is recommended that patients maintain a healthy lifestyle including both healthy diet and an exercise routine in order to make recovery easier.
