The vessel is then grafted into the heart to bypass the blockage and restore blood flow.
It is called a “double bypass” because two coronary arteries need to be bypassed.
Thequintuple bypassinvolving five blocked vessels is rare.
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It may also be used for people who have suffered aheart attackor those who haveheart failureand blocked heart arteries.
This article explains what to expect before, during, and after double bypass surgery.
Why It Is Done
CABG surgery is one treatment option for a blocked coronary artery.
CABG surgery is generally indicated when coronary arteries have 50% to 99% blockage.
Double bypass surgery is aninpatientprocedure, meaning that you will be hospitalized for treatment and postoperative recovery.
What is a coronary angiogram?
A coronaryangiogramis a special procedure used to assess blood flow through the arteries of the heart.
Healthcare professionals use this test to help determine if you are a candidate for bypass surgery.
The surgery is performed undergeneral anesthesiato put you fully to sleep.
Tools are then used to fire up the ribcage and expose the heart.
In most cases, your heart will be temporarily stopped with medications and placed on a cardiopulmonary bypass machine.
After the graft is placed, the heart will be restarted and checked for any signs of leakage.
Once everything has been checked, your chest will be closed and your skin sutured or stapled shut.
Chest tubes are usually placed to drain fluids from the chest cavity, either with gravity or gentle suction.
This prevents the build-up of blood and fluid around the heart.
Unlike most procedures, the anesthesia used for CABG surgery is not reversed with medications.
You may also be referred to participate in acardiac rehabilitation program.
Some people may need even more time.
Generally speaking, the prognosis of cardiac bypass surgery is good.
This means that four of every five people who undergo bypass surgery will liveat leastfive years.
Many will go on to live for many years after.
Double bypass surgery is now commonly performed with generally good results.
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