How Long Does it Take to Fully Recover from Heart Bypass Surgery?

Coronary artery bypass surgery or CABG is a surgery involving redirection of blood flow around the obstructed or partially blocked an artery to improve the blood flow to the heart. The procedure comprises of cutting a section of the healthy blood vessel from a leg, arm or chest and bridging it beyond the blocked vessels in the heart. 

The prime objective of the surgery is not to cure the heart disease of its root, rather relieve symptoms such as chest pain or breathlessness. This leads to refinement of the heart function and reduces the risk of death due to cardiac issues. 

Why Would You Need Bypass Surgery?

As per the guidelines by the American College of Cardiology and the Americal Heart Association in 1999, the following conditions may require CABG at some point :

• Considerable left main coronary artery stenosis
• Significant stenosis of the left proximal left anterior descending and proximal left circumflex arteries. 
• Two-vessel disease with significant proximal LAD stenosis and either ejection fraction <0.50 or demonstrable ischemia on noninvasive testing.
• One- or 2-vessel stenosis without significant proximal LAD stenosis, but with a large area of viable myocardium and high-risk criteria on noninvasive testing.
• Disabling angina despite maximal noninvasive therapy, when surgery can be performed with acceptable risk.

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Recovery time after CABG

After the heart bypass surgery is done, it usually takes 10-15 years to become entirely symptom-free. However, it proper care is not taken, there is a probability of accumulation of fatty substances on the new vessel grafts, hence leading to the requirement of another surgery. There are several factors that determine the recovery time after the surgery:

• General medical condition - This is the most significant factor in deciding the recovery period. If a person has been ill for a long time with lowered immunity levels, it certainly gets difficulty to recover from the surgery.
• Body weight - For patients who are overweight take more time to recover from the surgery.
• Smoking - Patients who are smoke, especially chain smokers are more prone to take a much longer time to recover after the surgery.
• Type of the surgery - The surgery may be an open heart surgery or minimally invasive one.  Depending upon the type of surgery you undergo, you will stay in the intensive care unit.

Some Tips to Recover Smoothly From the Surgery

The most crucial phase in the recovery period is the first 6 to 8 weeks. After you are free from the hospital stay, the team will take a detailed session with you regarding the instructions about post-surgery care. Following are some of the tips by some of the best cardiac surgeons in India, to recover faster and smoothly:

Taking Care of the Surgical Wound

The surgical wound must be kept clean and dry. The patient should start taking bath a few days after the surgery. One must consult the doctor if any of the following   signs are noticed:

• Increased drainage or oozing
• Pulling apart edges
• Increase in temperature of skin surface around the wound
• Redness around the wound
• Fever more than 100 F
• Crack or displacement in the breast bone

Pain Management

One must take all the pain medications as prescribed by the doctor. Signs such as itching, tightening of the skin, and numbness on the surgical site are noticed are absolutely normal. Moreover, if you have undergone bypass surgery, you may feel more pain in the legs than the chest because the graft has been surgically removed from the area. These symptoms generally resolve on their own with time. A mild form of exercise usually helps. 

Physical Activity

For the first few weeks, very mild exercises should be done. One should refrain from standing for more than 15 minutes and lifting a weight heavier than 10 pounds. Do not push or pull heavy things either.  It is recommended to walk every day. Also, one must follow the guidelines given to you in the cardiac rehabilitation program.

Dietary Changes

The patients are supposed to eat a healthy and nutritious diet. It is important to take small frequent meals for some time after the surgery.  If there is barely any improvement in the appetite for a long time after the surgery, one must consult the doctor. 

Medical tourism in India is booming and patients can easily find the best heart surgery hospitals in India. These hospitals are internationally accredited and have all the amenities for a comfortable stay of the patients. Top-of-the-line medical and diagnostic equipment is available at many Indian hospitals. That's why you can consider India for your next medical trip.