Mortality rates due to heart-related conditions are rising globally in number in recent years. Medications and lifestyle adjustments can only help with minor cases of heart disease, but not serious ones. In the domain of cardiac care, cardiovascular disorders are most effectively treated with surgical intervention. One such surgical intervention is heart bypass surgery, known to many as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Wondering, when is this surgery recommended? In this blog, Best Bypass Surgeon in Delhi, shares important pieces of information on heart bypass surgery- why it’s needed, how it’s done, and its benefits.

What is Heart Bypass Surgery?

A heart bypass surgery is a surgical intervention employed by cardiac experts for re-routing the blood supply to the heart, having blocked or narrowed coronary arteries. The surgery involves harvesting a healthy blood vessel from the patient's arm, leg, or chest and using it to create a new blood flow route around the damaged artery. 

Situations Indicating the Need for Heart Bypass Surgery

A heart bypass surgery is typically recommended when a severe coronary artery disease is diagnosed in the patient and the patient's symptoms fail to resolve solely by medications, lifestyle modifications, or angioplasty/stenting. Particularly, the cases are:

• Multiple blocked arteries- Patients, especially diabetics, experiencing narrowing or obstruction of several coronary arteries, especially the main arteries, can’t survive with angioplasty and so are best recommended with heart bypass surgery.
• Severe narrowing of main arteries- Patients who are suffering from blockage or narrowing of the left main coronary artery, which supplies oxygen-rich blood to the heart, are critical and their lives can only be saved with heart bypass grafting.
• Persistent chest pain despite ongoing cardiac care- Patients who are experiencing severe angina, uncontrolled by medications or other treatments, will only find relief with heart bypass surgery.
• Poor heart functioning- When arteries are blocked, the heart's functioning will get impaired, significantly impacting overall health and life quality. This warrants heart bypass surgery.
• Blockage or narrowing of arteries that can’t be opened by angioplasty or stenting- Patients who have multiple blockages in arteries or have blockages in locations that are challenging to address by angioplasty or stenting, a heart bypass surgery may be the last resort.

Signs of Heart Bypass Surgery

It is critical to see a cardiologist or cardiac surgeon and check for suitability of heart bypass surgery, if experiencing the following symptoms in intense, persistent, or repeated:

• Chest pain/discomfort, especially after physical exhaustion or stress
• Extreme tiredness, even after enough rest or a light physical routine
• Pain in the arms, neck, back, or jaw
• Palpating the heart or skipped heartbeats
• Difficulty breathing
• Fainting
• Dizziness.

The instances when heart bypass surgery becomes the only go-to solution are:

• Angiogram report showing multiple blockages in the arteries
• A heart attack or compromised heart function
• Recurrent narrowing of an artery despite angioplasty
• Diabetes, along with advanced coronary artery disease
• Medications are not helping manage symptoms.

How is Heart Bypass Surgery Performed?

A heart bypass surgery is executed under the effect of general anaesthesia, taking around 6-8 hours, depending on the complexity of the case. It can be done either on or off-pump, whichever is suitable for the patient.

First, the surgeon will clean and sterilise the chest to cut open it and expose the heart. A healthy vein or artery from another body part will be taken to create the bypass. The surgeon will fasten one end of the vein or artery to the aorta and the other to the blocked artery. After ensuring proper blood flow through the new vein or artery, the chest incision is sutured closed.

Benefits of Heart Bypass Surgery

A heart bypass surgery offers the following rewards that outweigh the potential risks, especially in cases of severe artery blockages:

• Restored proper blood supply to the heart
• Relief from angina (chest pain)
• Reduced risk of heart attack and death
• An active routine and better life quality.

During the initial meeting with the surgeon, the benefits and risks are discussed along with a cost breakdown and procedure details to ensure the right decision is made.

Take The Next Step

If you or your loved one is facing signs of a severe heart disease and thinks heart bypass surgery is a lifesaver option, discuss  it with a cardiologist and see if heart bypass surgery will be the right treatment. Dr. Sujay Shad, a Senior and Top Heart Surgeon in Delhi can be the right consultant to get details of the surgery and even undergo it. He is available for consultation for personalised and best cardiac care.