Coronary artery bypass graft

A coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is a surgical procedure used to treat coronary heart disease.It diverts blood around narrowed or clogged parts of the major arteries (blood vessels), to improve blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart.

Risk factors for coronary heart disease include:

Older age
Smoking
Obesity
A high-fat diet

The procedure

CABG involves taking a blood vessel from another part of the body, usually the chest or leg, and attaching it to the coronary artery above and below the narrowed area or blockage. This new blood vessel is known as a graft.The graft diverts the flow of blood around the part of the coronary artery that is narrowed or blocked

Preparing before the procedure

Before surgery, you will attend a pre-admission clinic, where you will be seen by a member of the team who will be looking after you in Manipal hospital.

At this clinic, you will have a physical examination and be asked for details of your medical history. Any investigations and tests that you need will be arranged. This is a good time to ask questions about the procedure, but feel free to discuss any concerns you might have at any time.
You will be asked:

Whether you are taking any tablets or other types of medication; it helps if you bring details with you of anything you are taking (for example, bring the packaging with you)
About previous anaesthetics you have had, and whether you had any problems with these (such as nausea)
Whether you are allergic to anything

They will also want to know about your teeth, for example, whether you wear dentures or have caps or a plate.
You will be advised to stop smoking. This is because smoking increases your chances of a serious chest infection and slows down the time your wounds will take to heal. Smoking can also increase your risk of blood clots.

Because the procedure is performed using a general anaesthetic (you are put to sleep), you must not eat or drink for at least six hours before the operation. You may be able to have occasional sips of water until two hours before the operation.

Postoperative care

For the first day or two after your operation, you will be in an intensive treatment unit so the medical staff can check your progress regularly.

You will be given painkillers and you should tell your doctor or nurse if the pain increases or if you loose a lot of blood.Recovery after your coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) will take time. It’s likely you will feel groggy and disoriented after the procedure.

Everyone recovers at slightly different speeds. As a rule of thumb, you should be able to sit in a chair after one day, walk after three days and walk upstairs after five or six days.Your stay in hospital will usually be around seven days. It may be longer if the doctors wish to monitor your condition more closely.

Normally, you’d expect to make a full recovery within 12 weeks. However, if you experience complications during or after the surgery, your recovery time is likely to be longer.
Someone from the cardiac rehabilitation team or physiotherapy department will discuss your rehabilitation with you before you go home. They will be able to advise you on the best ways to get back to full health.

At home

To ease any soreness where the cut was made, you may need to continue taking painkillers at home.
For the first three-to-six weeks, you will probably feel tired. By six weeks, you should be able to do most of the things you want to. By three months, you are likely to have regained full health.

Caring for your wound

Care for your chest wound by keeping it clean and free from infection. Make sure you protect it from the sun.You will have a scar where the surgeon cut down your breastbone. This is red at first, but will gradually fade over time.
Recovery

The recovery time after aortic valve replacement surgery varies from person to person and will depend on:

Your age
Your overall health and fitness
How well you were before the operation

Success

After your coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), you should feel relief from most of your symptoms, such as chest pain.

Research has shown that 83% of people are free of heart-related symptoms for five years, and 63% for 10 years after the procedure.
CABG is not a cure for coronary artery disease. To get the most out of the procedure, try to live a healthy lifestyle and make sure you take any prescribed medication as directed by your GP.