How do you prepare for coronary artery bypass graft surgery?

• You will be asked by your doctor to quit smoking and stop blood thinning medicines, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen
• You may be asked to go into alcohol withdrawal days before the surgery to avoid life-threatening complications like seizures or tremors 
• You may be asked to wash yourself with an antibiotic soap to lessen chances of infection after surgery
• You will be asked to stop eating and drinking after midnight before the day of operation
• You will be asked to undergo routine tests for assessing your health before surgery. These may include:

1. Chest X-ray
2. Electrocardiogram (ECG)
3. Blood tests
4. Echocardiogram (to assess your current valve)
5. Coronary angiogram (to assess blood flow in your heart arteries)

What happens during heart bypass surgery?

A blood vessel is grafted between the aorta and the coronary artery, leading to the heart muscle. This allows the blood to bypass blocked arteries and restore blood flow to the heart muscle. Your heart surgeon will make a cut down the middle of your sternum (breastbone) and will open your ribcage to reach your heart. 

Unless you are undergoing off-pump or minimally invasive surgery, your heart must be stopped so the heart surgeons can work on it. To ensure your body continues to receive blood, you will be hooked up to a heart-lung machine. Coronary artery bypass graft surgery can last between 3 to 6 hours depending on the number of bypasses that are created. When you wake up, you will either be in the recovery room or the ICU. 

What happens post heart bypass surgery? 

• You may feel muscle pain, throat pain, pain at the incision site, or pain from chest tube
• You will have 2-3 tubes in your chest to help you drain fluid from the area around your heart
• You may have to stay in hospital for 5-7 days, depending upon your condition
• Your recovery time may vary from two months to three months
• You may have to visit your doctor several times during the first few months to track your progress

What are the potential risks involved with CABG?

• Risks associated with anaesthesia
• Death
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Excessive bleeding
• Infection
• Minor problems in long-term memory, comprehension, calculation skills and concentration.

After a bypass, you will usually feel some discomfort and have some swelling around the wound for a few weeks. You may have permanent scars on your chest and in the area from where your graft is taken. Over time, these will fade.

Lifestyle changes

• You will be asked to avoid driving, heavy lifting for 3 to 8 weeks
• You will be asked to avoid caffeine, especially in the evenings
• You will be asked to cut down on foods high in salt, fat, and sugar

What is the cost of CABG surgery in India?

The costs of CABG surgery is Rs.1.25 lakh to Rs.2 lakh. To know more about CABG surgery cost, call our experts on 080 6814 4222

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