Coronary bypass surgery improves blood flow to your heart muscle by redirecting blood around the portion of the clogged artery into your heart. The surgical procedure involves extracting a healthy vessel from your leg, arm or chest, to sew the grafts onto the clogged arteries.
Why is coronary bypass surgery performed?
If you have clogged arteries in your heart, this is the only option. The heart specialist advises the surgery in case of:
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Severe chest pain by narrowed arteries, even during light exercise or while having rest.
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More than one damaged coronary artery or if the left ventricle isn’t functioning properly.
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Left main coronary artery is blocked or narrowed, since this artery supplies the maximum amount of blood to the left ventricle.
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You have had angioplasty or stent placement in the past, but the artery has narrowed again, which is termed as restenosis.
In case of emergency situations, such as heart attack, or when other treatments fail, coronary bypass surgery is the only option left.
What are the risks associated with coronary bypass surgery?
Since this kind of surgery is one of the major surgeries that can happen to an individual, you might experience complications post-operative treatment, such as:
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Bleeding
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Arrhythmias: Irregular heartbeat
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Infections around the wound
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Kidney problems
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Stroke
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Heart attack
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Memory loss problems; however, it improves within six to 12 months
The risk of developing complications depends on your overall health before and after the surgery. However, the probability of the risk of these infections getting materialized is higher, if the operation is done on an emergency basis or the patient has medical problems like kidney disease, diabetes, peripheral artery disease, etc.
What surgical techniques can the specialist consider?
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Off-pump or beating heart surgery: When the heart is still beating, this surgical procedure works. The procedure requires special equipment to stabilize the damaged area of the heart while being treated. This procedure is challenging for surgeons, as the heart is in functioning mode. However, it may not be recommended for everyone, especially not for older adults.
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Minimally Invasive Heart Surgery: This surgical procedure includes robot-assisted heart surgery through a small incision in the chest. The surgeon makes small incisions between the ribs of your chest and operates using robotics and video imaging. Port-access and keyhole surgery are their variations.
What are the after-effects of coronary bypass surgery?
Most people remain symptom-free for 10 to 15 years of post-operative treatment. As time passes on, the treated arteries or the new graft used in the bypass may become clogged and you may need another bypass or angioplasty. Your specialist may prescribe medications to control your diabetes, cholesterol or to prevent clotting for long-term outcomes. You may also need to follow a healthy lifestyle as directed, such as:
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Quit smoking
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Follow a healthy diet plan
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Regular workout sessions
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Stress management
What is the cost of bypass surgery in India?
The Heart bypass surgery cost in India is 60-70% less than in other western countries. The pricing also includes the country of origin, the number of travelers, total stay in India, cost of treatment, accommodation, daily commute, miscellaneous.
The rapid growth of medical tourism in India is a sign that the county has become the hub for affordable medical treatments. The doctors and surgeons at the best heart surgery hospitals in India are trained from the best medical institutions in the US and Europe. The best thing about the country is even the most budget-conscious traveler can afford high-quality services from the best cardiac surgeons in India.
Conclusion:
Off-pump heart surgery and minimally invasive heart surgery are the other two techniques where smaller incisions are required to carry out heart bypass surgery. These surgical procedures work when the heart is beating and require no heart-lung machine. However, not every patient has such options.