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  • Cardiac Bypass Surgery

     
     
     
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    Bypass surgery is performed by a cardiovascular surgeon, a medical specialist trained in surgical procedures to treat conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels.  The procedure is done in a hospital operating room.

    To perform bypass surgery, surgeons take a section of a healthy artery or vein from the leg (called the saphenous vein) or from another part of the body.  They then attach (or graft) it upstream and downstream from the blockage on the affected heart artery.  This creates a “bypass” through which blood may flow around the blockage to the heart muscle.   

    Who may be referred for bypass surgery? People who have chest pain that prevents them from being active often find relief with bypass surgery. Those with coronary artery disease for whom interventional procedures, such as angioplasty and stenting, are not recommended may also be referred for bypass surgery.   

  • More About Bypass Surgery

    Heart Valve Replacement

    When a heart valve becomes diseased, blood flow is either restricted due to a too-small opening, or blood is allowed to flow backward into the heart.

    How Bypass Surgery Is Performed

    Bypass surgery is performed by a cardiovascular surgeon, a medical specialist trained in surgical procedures to treat conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels. The procedure is done in a hospital operating room.

    Overview of Bypass Surgery

    If a lengthy portion of an artery becomes narrowed – or if a vessel is severely blocked, bypass surgery may be recommended. The procedure is performed by a surgeon.

    Questions for Your Doctor About Bypass Surgery

    Use these questions to start a list of your own to ask your doctor.

    Recovery at Home

    After bypass surgery, you may stay in the hospital for three to five days, then continue recovery at home for four to six weeks.

    Risks and Complications of Bypass Surgery

    More than 95 percent of people who undergo bypass surgery do not experience serious complications. But, as with any surgery, risks do exist. They include:

    What to Expect Before, During and After Bypass Surgery

    Admission to the hospital: You may be admitted to the hospital either the day before or early in the morning of the day of your surgery.

    Your Care Team During Bypass Surgery

    If treating your blockages requires bypass surgery, your cardiologist will refer you to a cardiac surgeon, or cardiothoracic surgeon. These surgeons specialize in treatment of the heart, lungs, esophagus, and chest.