When the coronary arteries get blocked or damaged, Coronary artery bypass surgery or heart bypass surgery is done. It is a process of replacing the blocked arteries that supplies blood to a human heart muscle. The operating surgeon on the patient uses blood vessels taken from another part of the human body to fix the blocked arteries. CABG or bypass has been performed for 40-50 years, and daily addition of medical and scientific knowledge has transformed into around 1.5 to 2 lakhs heart surgery numbers in India, alone. Many clinical trials and research papers have reemphasized the benefits and efficacy in saving multiple lives and maintaining smiles on the faces of the patients and most importantly, given them an opportunity to lead a second inning. Dr. Chandrashekhar Kulkarni, Consultant-cardio vascular thoracic surgery at Global Hospital, Mumbai shares facts and details about Bypass surgery.

 

Surprisingly, the surgery pain is very less after the first two or three days, and patients do manage with only a tablet of crocin. Some patients have some dull sense of tightness in the chest for a few days which is improved by physiotherapy. The resistance to one of the safest and well documented open-heart procedures is mind-boggling. Even in presence of medical conditions like Diabetes, blood pressure, mild kidney issues, heart dysfunction; Bypass can be performed with relative safety and efficacy, and good recovery in 98 to 99 percent of patients. The remaining one or two patients have issues due to the previous delay in treatment or severe dysfunction and emergency conditions.

 

Especially in patients with diabetes, CABG (bypass) has shown to be most effective and long-lasting treatment option in the presence of 3-4 significant blocks. Many scientific studies have pointed to a massive reduction of heart attack events, readmission events and improved life span in almost 95% of patients. More so, this effect stays on for around 10-15 years adding significant value in the family and personal life of an individual. Restitution of normal heart function gets the patient back on the productive earnings track adding significant value to the family and society with reduced dependence on accumulated savings. Simple techniques of keeping diabetes under control are more than sufficient to prevent the dreaded complications of infection at bay.

In a price-sensitive developing country like India, prevention of readmission and reintervention itself adds up to a lot of savings in the long run. And obviously, no amount of money can ever get you back the vitality and heart function once it is lost. A timely procedure can set you right for a long time with the least possible discomfort.

Keep these few things in mind

 

            Early detection and procedure, if needed

Lifestyle changes as per advice like quitting smoking and tobacco

Adequate control of blood pressure and diabetes

Exercise like walking 5kms a day within 3 months of surgery

Weight loss of around 5-10kg (as per case) and same weight throughout the    lifetime

Early resumption of work

Stress-free atmosphere and relaxation

These few things will help the patient, and the family gets back right into the act after the surgery.

 

Everything you need to know about minimally invasive bypass surgery

 

A recent new option of MINIMALLY INVASIVE BYPASS with a small incision of around 6-7 cm to the left chest has shown to be beneficial to most patients. This not only reduces the pain and blood loss but also has faster recovery times and near ZERO risks of infection. The patient is usually discharged by 6 days after the operation.

Take-away message: A damaged heart is never possible to be restituted back to its original function. Risk is the only increasing outcome of a procrastinated decision.

 

Book Appointment: Dr. Chandrashekhar Kulkarni, Consultant-cardio vascular thoracic surgery at Global Hospital, Mumbai