Heart Bypass Surgery in India

Heart bypass surgery also famously known as Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a procedure to improve the flow of blood to the heart. It is basically conducted to relieve the patient from the symptoms of coronary heart disease (CHD). Coronary heart disease is a condition in which the coronary arteries start getting blocked due to the buildup of a substance known as plaque (plak). The main function of coronary artery is to keep your heart healthily functioning with the supply of oxygen-rich blood. This substance called plaque is basically made up of cholesterol, fat, calcium and other sort of unhealthy substances found in the blood. Gradually with continuous flow of blood, plaque starts to accumulate, narrowing or totally blocking the coronary arteries. This leads to reduced flow of blood to the heart muscle causing shortness of breath and in some cases even a severe heart attack (Angina).

CABG is the most reliable treatment to cure coronary heart disease. In this process, a healthy vein or artery is taken from the patient’s body and then it is grafted or connected with the blocked coronary arteries. Overall, this procedure creates a new route that goes around the blocked portion carrying oxygen-rich blood till the heart muscle.

Types of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Traditional Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

This is the most preferred type of coronary artery bypass grafting and is done when at least when major artery is blocked. When the surgery is started the surgeon opens the chest bone to get an easy access to the patient’s heart. The next step is to stop the heart by inducing certain medicines after which a bypass machine is installed to regulate the blood and oxygen flow throughout the other parts of the body during the ongoing surgery.

Once the surgery is over the flow of blood to the heart is restored. The heart usually starts beating on its own but in case if it doesn’t, the surgeons induce mild electric shocks to regain the heart beat.

Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

This surgery is somewhat similar to that of the traditional CABG as this one also involves opening of the chest bone to get an access to the patient’s heart. This surgery can be conducted to bypass any of the coronary arteries. This surgery is also famously known as beating heart bypass grafting due to the fact that the heart isn’t stopped during the surgery and even the bypass machine is not installed. Then how does the surgery takes place? Well, it is done by steadying the part of the heart that needs surgery with the help of a mechanical device.

Minimally Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

In this surgery, instead of opening the complete chest bone, surgeons make numerous small incisions on the left side of the patient’s chest.

This type of procedure is comparatively new and is not performed that often. This surgery is conducted to bypass the blood vessels that are in front of the heart and cannot be undertaken if more than one coronary artery needs to be bypassed.

Main Goals of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Enhancing the person’s quality of life by decreasing or completely eliminating the symptoms of CHD and angina.
Giving the scope for a better and more active lifestyle.
Stabilizing the blood pumping activity of the heart that has been damaged due to a heart attack.
Lowering the risk of further chances of having a heart attack. Increasing the chance of survival.

One might need a repeat surgery somewhere in the future if the grafted arteries also start blocking due to plaque. Taking up a healthy lifestyle and following the routine of taking medicines that have been prescribed lowers the chances of grafted veins and arteries from being blocked in the future.

What are The Diagnostic Tests Involved?

ECG (Electrocardiogram) – ECG test is conducted to detect and record the electrical activity of the heart. This test is used to precisely locate the source of problem through the heart beat and its rhythm.
Stress Test – In this test diagnosis is made by increasing the rate of the heart beat through various physical exercises. These tests might include scanning of the heart through- echocardiography, nuclear heart scanning, position emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Echocardiography – In this type of diagnostic procedure the sound waves are used to create a functioning picture of the heart. This can detect the weak heart muscles and the areas of heart suffering with injuries due to poor blood flow.
In coronary angiography procedure a flexible tube also known as catheter is put into the blood vessel in the arm, neck or upper thigh area. The catheter is used for inducing dye into the bloodstream that shows the insides of the coronary arteries (heart). This helps the doctor to examine the flow of blood through the blood vessels and heart.

What to Expect Before and During CABG?

Once all the diagnostic tests are performed you will be assigned with a date and time when the surgery will be conducted. doctor will provide you with certain instructions that need to be duly followed by you. You will be advised for what medicines to take, what to eat and drink and what lifestyle changes you need to make (stopping certain activities such as smoking or drinking).

During the surgery a team of experts will be present on the spot. A cardiothoracic surgeon will conduct the surgery with the help of other team members such as a perfusionist, anesthesiologist and other surgeons present in the room along with nurses.

Recovery and Cost of Surgery

Once the patient has undergone the complete procedure and finally starts to show overall stable stats, then it takes somewhere around two days to a week for the patient to be discharged from the hospital. The recovery period usually varies according to the age of the patient. The total recovery time can be very long as the scope to make too much physical activities needs to be kept under check.

Cost of High Risk Coronary bypass surgery in India varies from hospital to hospital and doctor to doctor. For exact quote, please discuss your medical concern with our medical support team in free today and get cost of Coronary bypass surgery in India.

Best Doctors For Heart Bypass Surgery In India View All

Dr. Ashok Seth

Chairman of Fortis Escorts Heart Institute & Fortis Healthcare Medical Council

CONSULTS AT

Fortis Escort Hospital

EXPEREIENCE :
34+ Years SURGERIES :
17800+