Coronary artery bypass surgery, or coronary artery bypass grafting, is a procedure to create a detour for blood to flow sufficiently to the heart. It prevents heart failure caused by ischemia. This is one of the treatments for coronary artery disease. Currently, the second leading cause of death in Thai people, excluding accidents, is heart and coronary artery disease, second only to cancer.
Steps of Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
- The doctor takes a good quality blood vessel from another part of the body, which may be a vein from the leg or an artery from the chest or forearm, to create a bypass around the narrowed or blocked coronary artery.
- The doctor connects one end of the blood vessel to the aorta supplying the heart, and the other end to the coronary artery below the narrowed or blocked area.
Coronary artery bypass surgery increases blood flow to the heart muscle, solving the problem of ischemic heart symptoms and helping the heart function better.
Post-Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery Care
After the surgery is completed, the doctor will have the patient rest in the ICU for at least 1-2 days. Then, the patient will be transferred to a regular ward for at least 7 days for observation and follow-up. During the hospital recovery period, the patient may need to have tubes or lines attached to the body for some time.
Once the patient returns home for recovery, they must take care of the wound, get enough rest, and avoid heavy activities as these may delay wound healing or cause complications.
Additionally, the patient and close caregivers should closely monitor the patient’s symptoms. If any of the following occur, seek medical attention immediately:
- Fever higher than 38 degrees Celsius
- Difficulty breathing
- Persistent nausea or vomiting
- Increased pain at the surgical wound site
- Swelling or bleeding at the surgical wound site
- Rapid or irregular heartbeat
- Swelling or numbness in the arms or legs
Dr. Chayut Cheewapruk
Cardiovascular Specialist
Heart Center, Phyathai Nawamin Hospital
