Open Heart Bypass Surgery

WHAT IS BYPASS SURGERY?
Bypass surgery is a type of heart surgery. This surgery improves the blood flow to your heart by creating a new route or "bypass", around a section of your blocked artery. In this procedure, a section of vein from the leg, or an artery from your chest or forearm is used. This restores the blood flow to your heart muscle.

WHAT IS ATHEROSCLEROSIS ?
Atherosclerosis is the process of fat deposition in the arteries. This can lead to blockages in the coronary artery, stopping or reducing the blood flow to various segments of your heart. As a result, you may suffer from angina (squeeaing chest pain) or even a heart attack.

WHEN IS BYPASS SURGERY REQUIRED?

Bypass surgery may be required for the following conditions :

If you have severe chest pain called 'angina', even during light exercise or at rest. Sometimes angioplasty and stent placement will bring relief in this situation, but for some, bypass is the best option.

If more than one of your coronary arteries is diseased and the heart's main pump, which is called the 'left ventricle' is functioning poorly

If you left main coronary artery, which supplies blood to the left ventricle is severely narrowed or blocked

If you have an artery blockage for which angioplasty isn't appropriate, or you have had a previous angioplasty or stent placement that hasn't been successful, or you have had an angioplasty but the artery has narrowed again (restenosis)

WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE PROCEDURE?

Before the procedure, you will undergo some routine blood tests, an ECG, a chest X-ray and an angiography. This will give your doctor a clear picture of your current health status. On the day of the procedure, you will be required to be empty stomach. If you smoke, you should stop smoking 2 weeks before the surgery.

In the operation theatre, you will be given general anaesthesia for a painless procedure. A heart-lung machine will ensure blood flow through your body while your heart is stopped and is being operated upon. A graft (a long piece of vein or an artery) will be taken from your leg or the inside of your chest wall or forearm and attached to one end f the graft will be attached to a coronary artery below your blocked area. The procedure can take from 2 to 6 hours, depending on the number of bypasses needed.

Some new techniques for bypass surgery have been developed that reduce the need for large incisions or a heart-lung machine.

Off-pump or beating-heart surgery : This procedure allows surgery to be done on the still-beating heart using special equipment to stabilize or quieten the area of the heart, the surgeon is working on.
Minimally invasive surgery : In this procedure, a surgeon performs coronary bypass through several smaller incisions in the chest. This technique is used only when certain conditions exist. If multiple coronary arteries need to be worked on, it’s best to use a conventional approach. Variations of minimally invasive surgery are called port-access or keyhole surgery.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER SURGERY ?
After surgery, you will be moved to an intensive care unit (ICU) where you would stay for 1 to 3 days. You can expect to be discharged from the hospital in approximately 7 days. You can return to your job in 4 to 6 weeks, but strenuous work should be avoided. After your surgery, you should make healthy lifestyle changes. These include, a diet low in fat and cholesterol, cessation of smoking and regular exercises.

CARDIAC REHABILITATION
Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically supervised program to help heart patients restore their normal life after treatment of their cardiac disease. Cardiac rehabilitation, when combined with medicine and surgical treatments, can help you recover faster, feel better, and develop a healthier lifestyle. Cardiac rehabilitation often begins in the hospital after a heart attack, heart surgery, or other heart treatment. Rehabilitation continues in an outpatient setting after you leave the hospital.

FOLLOW UP CARE
Follow up care is an essential element of the overall treatment plan. Regular checkups are advised to detect any changes in health as early as possible.

CARDIAC CARE AT ARTEMIS
Artemis Health Institute (AHI), Gurgaon, has one of the most advanced cardiac care facilities in the country. These include diagnostic facilities such as Treadmill Test (TMT), Echocardiography (colour Doppler), Stress Echocardiography, 24 hours Holter monitoring, Ambulatory BP Monitoring, Stress Thallium test, 64 slice CT angiography, Coronary and peripheral angiography and Electrophysiological study. Artemis Health Institute also offers the best combination of equipment and doctors for world-class treatment of all cardiac diseases in the form of coronary angioplasty, by pass surgery, valvularplasty / valve replacement surgery, radio frequency ablation and pace maker implantation.