Coronary bypass with cardiac catheterization

Procedure Information

What is Coronary bypass without cardiac catheterization?

Coronary bypass is a procedure used when there is a severe blockage of one of your coronary arteries (arteries that supply your heart muscles). When the blockage is severe, this can lead to symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath. The coronary bypass can help relieve these symptoms.

The procedure involves creating a new blood supply for the blocked artery by connecting a graft after the area of blockage. Your arteries or veins can be used to obtain this graft. The graft will create a new pathway to carry blood to your heart.

Why would I get a coronary bypass?

Coronary bypass is generally used when there is a severe narrowing of your coronary arteries and this narrowing is causing symptoms like chest pain. Not all people with narrowing in their coronary arteries will require a coronary bypass. Your cardiologist will decide if you need it or not. The procedure may be considered if:

• The narrowing is severe and is in multiple coronary arteries.
• The narrowing can not be treated by inserting a balloon to widen the lumen of the artery (angioplasty).
• You had angioplasty done before, but the narrowing appeared again.
• The narrowed vessels are causing severe symptoms leading to symptoms that can not be managed by medications.

What happens during the procedure?

Coronary bypass is done under general anesthesia. This means that you will be asleep during the procedure and will not remember anything. It can take from three to six hours.

Because you will be under general anesthesia, you will need a breathing tube connected to your mouth, and the breathing tube is connected to a ventilator. The ventilator will breathe for you during the surgery.

Your surgeon will make a long incision in your chest to access your rib cage. Then the surgeon will open the rib cage and expose your heart. A heart-lung machine will keep blood flowing through your body because your heart will be temporarily stopped with medications for the surgeon to operate on it. The machine called a heart-lung machine. The surgeon will use a graft from a blood vessel in your body and connects it to the end of the blocked artery, so that blood flow is restored to this artery.

Once the surgeon is done connecting the graft, your heartbeat will be restored, and you will be disconnected from the heart-lung machine.

What happens after the procedure?

You will start recovery in the ICU. Expect to stay there for one to two days for close monitoring by your healthcare team. You may be discharged from the hospital within a week or so. However, you will not be able to do all your daily regular activities. This is because recovery from this procedure takes around two months. 

You will feel pain and discomfort after the surgery, but this is normal and is because your body is healing. With time, you will feel much better. Contact your doctor immediately if you feel any abnormalities like fever, heart palpitations, or discharge from the chest wound.

Conclusion

You will feel much better after your recovery period. Many people can stay symptoms-free for up to 15 years. However, sometimes the grafted blood vessel may become narrowed and require angioplasty or another bypass. 

Your lifestyle is very important because it can determine how long will you stay symptoms-free. Managing your blood glucose, blood lipids, and blood pressure can help in preventing any further complications. This is why a healthy lifestyle is vital.

Citations

Mayo Clinic: Coronary bypass surgery

Cleveland Clinic: Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery