It is the left and right coronary arteries that supply this blood and oxygen without any interruptions. But in cases sometimes a condition called atherosclerosis can cause the arteries to become narrow due to fatty acid build up around them. This is known as coronary heart disease. Coronary bypass surgery is performed usually in emergency situations, such as a heart attack if you’re not responding to other treatments. Same as other parts of our body, the heart requires a regular supply of blood and oxygen.

A severe case of atherosclerosis occurs with the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart, causing chest pain and an ailment called angina. A cardiologist will recommend an open heart bypass surgery in the following cases:

• When are Artery are blocked and are unable to treat using medication or with artery-opening procedures like angioplasty
• If you have been through a formerly failed angioplasty, surgery might be the only option.
• When the heart muscles are falling short of oxygen even with the slightest activity or during rest- A severe case of angina.
• Noticeable blockages in more than one artery that supplies blood to the heart.

Before the surgery the surgeon will recommend some necessary lifestyle changes, medications and diet changes required ahead in the surgery. The following pre-surgical tests will be recommended to determine patient’s overall health and wellbeing and also to check the status of artery blockages:

• Coronary Angiogram
• Chest X-Ray
• Blood Tests
• Electrocardiogram (ECG)
• It is always suggested to discuss all your queries with your surgeon during this time so that you are relaxed and at peace during your surgery.

It takes around three to six hours for bypass surgery to finish, depending on the heart blockages and their severity. An experienced cardiac surgeon along with his trusted team will perform the operation under general anesthesia.

• The procedure starts by removing a healthy artery or a vein graft from some other part of the body. Usually, the grafts are taken either from the leg (saphenous vein), from inside the chest (also known as an internal mammary artery) or from the arm (known as a radial artery).
• Once the graft is ready, the surgeon will make an incision along the breastbone in the center of the chest and slowly spread open the rib cage in order to get open access to the heart.
• With the help of a stabilization device, the heart is stabilized so that the surgeon can work on the required area of the heart.
• Then, the one end of the graft is attached to the area just above the blockage in the artery and another end is attached below the artery blockage area.
• After the successful implantation of the graft over the blood vessel, normal blood flow resumes in the area.
• In the CABG procedure, the heart continues to beat while in the CBP procedure, the heart stops temporarily. Talk to your surgeons to understand the pros and cons of both treatment methods.

Once the heart surgery is done the patient is moved into the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) to monitor his/her health and heart. The patient might have to spend a day or two in the intensive care unit. There’s a breathing tube that will remain in the throat until the patient is awake and able to breathe on his/her own. Based on the patient’s response to the surgery, the patient will then be moved to a normal room where you might have to stay for about a week. It can take around three to four weeks to resume normal routines after the surgery. The patient will be recommended to attend a cardiac rehabilitation program for faster recovery through exercise and education. The patient should constantly have follow-ups as directed by the surgeon since that will monitor his/her progress and determine any unexpected relapse in the treatment.

Even with coronary bypass surgery, your doctor will recommend some lifestyle changes after surgery. Medications are prescribed routinely after coronary bypass surgery to lower your blood cholesterol, reduce the risk of developing a blood clot and help your heart function as well as possible. After a bypass surgery, most people feel better and might remain symptom-free for as long as 10 to 15 years but as this is open heart surgery, the risks and complications are comparatively higher. Though it is assured that the doctors and surgeons will do their best to deliver a successful operation, you must be aware of the risks before you make your decision. The risks and complications largely depend on the status of your health before your surgery and the chances of risks are maybe higher when the surgery is an emergency procedure. Some of the possible risks include:

• Post-pericardiotomy syndrome – low fever or chest pain
• Disruption in cognitive abilities or memory loss
• According to many clinical studies It is seen that a beating heart CABG procedure offers comparatively lesser complications and a shorter hospital stay compared to the conventional CPB.
• Chest wound infection
• Problems in heart rhythms or a stroke
• Arrhythmias