Bypass Surgery

Your heart needs blood and oxygen in order to function. The blood supply to your heart is severely compromised if you have a blockage in one or more of your arteries. Chest pains, arm pains and other symptoms may be warning signs that your heart is not getting enough blood. If the pain persists you should see a doctor.

Signs Of A Heart Attack:
Chest pains or discomfort
Arm pains
Irregular heart rate
Fainting
Nausea
Shortness of breath
Prolonged pain in the upper abdomen

About Atherosclerosis:
Atherosclerosis causes blocked arteries. Atherosclerosis is the buildup of fatty deposits on the inside of the arteries. If the arteries become narrow and reduce the blood flow to the heart you can suffer a heart attack.

Where Does Atherosclerosis Come From:
Cholesterol in the blood can become deposited on the inside walls of the arteries. This seems to happen faster in people who:
Have high blood pressure.
Smoke
Are overweight
Don't exercise regularly
Have diabetes
Have a family history of Atherosclerosis
Eat a high fat, high cholesterol foods
Have high cholesterol

What is Bypass Surgery?:
Coronary bypass surgery is an operation in which other blood vessels are used to go around (or bypass) clogged coronary arteries, so that blood can flow freely to the heart through the net "arteries".

Determining If You Need Bypass Surgery:
A cardiac catheterization may be done to determine if you need bypass surgery. Pictures, called angiograms, may also be taken to show the blockages.

Before Bypass Surgery:
When preparing for bypass surgery you should rest, exercise, eat well and quit smoking. Your doctor should give you specific instructions before your bypass surgery so that you will be completely prepared. Make a list of all the questions you want to ask your doctor before you surgery. The morning of the surgery your doctor will give you medication to help you feel relaxed and drowsy.

Heart surgery usually about 2-6 hours. During the operation the doctor will connect you to a coronary bypass machine, which assumes the function of your heart and lungs until the surgery is completed. The surgeon will take a blood vessel from your leg (or from within the check) and attach one end to the aorta and the other end to the coronary artery below the point where the artery is blocked (this is the bypass). Blood is now able to flow freely through the new bypass graft to the heart.

What Happens To The Blockage?:
The blockage remains as is. The blood supply has been rerouted around the blockage to the heart muscle.

Coronary bypass surgery has an excellent success rate. However, as with any major surgery, it also has some risks. Ricks include, bleeding, stroke, infection, heart attack or death. You should review all the risks with your doctor before your bypass surgery.

When you wake from your bypass surgery you will be in the Intensive Care Unit. You may feel confused and unable to talk. You will have equipment surrounding you. This equipment helps you to breath and checks your blood pressure, heart rate and kidney functions. Most of the tubes and catheter will be removed within a day or two. Your doctor may give you some breathing exercises. You will feel sore and may experience moodiness and night sweats, which is all normal. The doctor will give you medication to help you to feel more comfortable. Within a few day you will eat a normal meal and begin to feel better with each passing day.

You should be fully recovered within 3 months after your operation. Unless your job is physically demanding, you should be able to retrun to work in 4-6 weeks. You should also make some changes in your lifestyle, such as reducing the amount of fat and cholesterol in your diet, and exercising daily.