After coronary artery bypass surgery. Complications after coronary artery bypass surgery How long do they stay after cardiac bypass surgery?

From the moment the first study was carried out, mortality statistics were constantly in the field of view of doctors. It has been established that the mortality rate after primary CABG is in the range of 1-5%. The bulk of deaths are explained by acute heart failure. In general, risk factors easily fall into two main categories:

  1. Preoperative factors include the patient’s age, a history of chronic diseases, and the degree of myocardial ischemia.
  2. Other components are the professionalism of the operating surgeon, the year of surgical intervention, the need to support the activity of the heart muscle, etc.

According to Professor D. Nobel, monitoring of coronary artery bypass grafting showed decreasing mortality statistics from 1967 to 1980. Over 58 thousand case histories were studied. Every year, the number of deaths decreased. However, recently there has been an increase in indicators. This is due to the fact that the age of the operated patients has increased. The severity of the condition of patients undergoing surgery has become higher.

The study showed that the survival rate of people who have undergone CABG is high. After a year the figure is 95%, after 5 years – 88%, after 15 years – 60%. Studying the results of CABG, it was revealed that sudden cardiac arrest in the postoperative period is an extremely rare phenomenon. Bypass surgery in mortality statistics contains data on 10% of cases of heart failure as a factor causing death.

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Coronary artery bypass surgery - mortality statistics and prognosis

Considering the pros and cons of coronary artery bypass grafting, the effectiveness of the operation should be noted. In most cases, thanks to the intervention of an experienced surgeon, angina is neutralized and the degree of stress tolerance on the body increases. But the most common manifestation of coronary disease after surgery remains angina pectoris. During her recovery after CABG, at the time of returning to normal activities, it is more likely that coronary blood flow was not fully restored. The second probable cause is early occlusion of the shunt. Similar changes in the late period are caused by:

  • stenosis;
  • exacerbation of atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries;
  • occlusion of shunts due to thrombosis or embolism;
  • combinatorial combination of these characteristics.

A true indicator of CABG results is the patient's well-being, which is difficult to express in measurable units. The patient’s good condition can be confirmed by general performance, absence of shortness of breath, or angina. The absence of complications indicates the effectiveness of the procedure.

If bypass surgery is performed, statistics show that 5 years after the operation, the well-being of former patients in the surgical department gradually worsens with the onset of angina. However, the data demonstrate that after 5 years the negative state is absent in 75-80% of people who underwent CABG, and after 10 years – in 65-70%. 15 years after bypass surgery, mortality statistics show an interesting picture - up to 20% of patients are alive and not susceptible to angina attacks.

Coronary artery bypass grafting – statistics of changes

When detailed, CABG results demonstrate a change in the patient's condition. As a result of normalized blood flow to the myocardium:

  • angina attacks are neutralized;
  • improvements in physical condition are observed;
  • the risk of developing myocardial infarction is reduced;
  • performance improves, the volume of physical activity increases;
  • pharmacological assistance is reduced to a minimum.

The most important thing is that life expectancy increases and the likelihood of sudden cardiac arrest after surgery decreases. Patient reviews show improvements in the vast majority of cases. Doctors performing coronary artery bypass surgery give a favorable prognosis. Specialists return the patient to normal life and make ordinary human joys accessible to seriously ill patients.

After CABG, statistics show the neutralization of frightening health problems in 80% of cases. In 85% of situations, re-blockage of blood vessels does not occur. Many patients have concerns about short life expectancy after surgery. There is no clear answer to this question. Much depends on accompanying factors - lifestyle, age parameters, bad habits. On average, the service life of the shunt is determined by a 10-year period; in young patients it can be extended. At the end of the period, repeat CABG is recommended.

The effectiveness of the operation has now been proven by the global scientific community, but coronary artery bypass grafting does not always have a favorable prognosis. Like any surgical intervention, the procedure has complications. In medical practice, the following have been noted: heart attack, stroke, incision infection, vein thrombosis. Patients themselves are often to blame for the lack of improvement. This is due to unreasonable fears for life, fears of death, stress and “obsession” with the disease. Patients are recommended to undergo rehabilitation with the participation of a psychologist. To reduce the risk of developing undesirable consequences, you should contact professional doctors who are highly qualified and have successful experience in performing operations.

The patient decides whether surgery is necessary. For a balanced choice, a comprehensive assessment of all risks is necessary. The doctor warns about them at the stage of examination and development of recommendations for further treatment. After CABG, mortality statistics are minimal. Today, the operation is performed even in complex cases and in old age. This is a chance to prolong your life and improve your own health.

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In modern medicine, the concept of heart bypass is often encountered, what it is and why it is performed - we will try to understand it in this article. This operation has become widespread, with its help a lot of problems are solved, people get rid of dangerous diseases and get a second chance in life. Heart bypass surgery still raises many questions, which we will now deal with.

What is bypass surgery?

Shunting comes from the English word shunt. Its translation means branch. This concept accurately conveys the essence of the operation. Many diseases can lead to conditions in which it cannot perform its functions.

In this case, it is necessary to create a new path for blood flow, bypassing the affected artery. For this purpose, fragments of vessels are taken from other parts of the body, most often the lower limbs are selected. This is generalized information, but this will be enough for you and me to continue studying the problem.

Indications for surgery

All indications for heart bypass surgery fit into a small list, which consists of only two points:

  1. Atherosclerosis, the essence of which is the coating of the inner walls of blood vessels with cholesterol plaques. In normal condition, the inside of the arteries is smooth and even, but in case of disease they become clogged with accumulations of cholesterol. Without proper treatment, this situation can cause necrosis and death of tissues and even entire organs.
  2. Ischemic or is a type of atherosclerosis. The disease specifically affects the coronary arteries, which connect to the heart muscle. In this situation, the lumen of the vessels becomes very narrow, the arteries lose their capacity, and less oxygen enters the heart than is necessary for its normal functioning. The disease is accompanied by chest pain, angina pectoris and angina pectoris.

The diseases are very dangerous and can lead to disability or death. Therefore, heart bypass surgery cannot be postponed if a specialist has determined the need for it.

Contraindications

Cardiac bypass surgery cannot be performed in all cases. There are a number of serious contraindications:

  • diffuse damage to the coronary arteries;
  • scarring, which leads to a sharp decrease in EF in the left ventricle by up to 30%;
  • congestive heart failure;
  • the presence of severe concomitant ailments, among which the first place is taken by chronic diseases of the pulmonary system, renal failure and malignant tumors.

In addition to contraindications, there are a number of operational risk factors, which are assessed individually in each case. For example, advanced age cannot be considered an absolute contraindication, but this factor cannot be ignored either. In any case, an examination is carried out before the operation, and based on its data, conclusions are drawn about the risks. Specialists either give approval for surgery or do not allow the patient to undergo surgery.

Preparing for surgery

Heart bypass, like any other operation, requires preparation. Its essence is as follows:

  1. Taking medications that can thin the blood is prohibited for two weeks before the date of surgery.
  2. Your doctor should be aware of all the medications you are taking. They may also have to be canceled in advance. Not only medications are important, but also dietary supplements and traditional medicine.
  3. Hospitalization is required to conduct a comprehensive examination of the body.
  4. An anesthesiologist must conduct an examination before the operation. He studies the physical parameters of the body, finds out about the presence of allergies, during the conversation finds out the necessary information and draws up a plan for his work.
  5. The night before, you may be given a sedative to help you relax, relieve anxiety, and allow you to get a good night's sleep.


There are a number of rules for the patient that must be followed in the evening before surgery:

  • the latest meal is at 6 pm;
  • after midnight you can’t drink;
  • Prescribed medications should be taken after dinner, but not later;
  • You need to take a shower in the evening.

On average, a heart bypass operation lasts no more than 4 hours, often three hours is enough.

How much does cardiac bypass surgery cost?

It is difficult to talk about how much cardiac bypass surgery costs, since a large number of factors influence the final amount.

In one of the city hospitals, we found the cost to be between 130 and 400 thousand rubles. In another clinic, the cost starts from 150 thousand and reaches half a million. The cost of such an operation abroad starts from 800 thousand, reaches one and a half million, and this is not the limit. You know approximately how much heart bypass surgery costs, and we continue to further study the features of such surgical intervention.

How is the bypass procedure performed?

Heart bypass surgery is performed on the exposed heart muscle. This requires cutting through the sternum, which is a massive bone and takes a long time to heal after surgery. The operation can be performed on a stopped heart or a beating heart. The first option requires the use of a heart-lung machine. The second option is more acceptable and common.

Surgery on a beating heart is not possible if it is necessary to replace valves and remove an aneurysm. These are two main contraindications. Surgery without cardiac arrest has several advantages:

  • the immune system and blood circulation do not aggravate the patient’s condition with complications;
  • the operation lasts less time;
  • rehabilitation is faster.

We have sorted out the general questions, now we will find out how bypass surgery of the heart vessels is done. The essence of the operation is to create a new path for blood to pass to the heart. The surgical plan is as follows:

  1. The skin and bone behind which the heart muscle is located are cut on the chest.
  2. A vessel (artery) is prepared that will act as a shunt.
  3. If it is necessary to stop the heart, a cardioplegic arrest is performed, after which the machine is activated, which will provide blood circulation. In another case, stabilizing devices are fixed on the surgical field.
  4. The previously prepared vessel is connected to the aorta on one side. The other side is fixed on the coronary artery below the place where blood does not pass.
  5. The heart is started and the machine is turned off if it has stopped.
  6. The sternum is fixed with metal sutures, and the skin is sutured.


At this point the operation is considered completed. A simplified plan has been described above, which will be sufficient for the average reader.

Possible complications

Despite the complexity and seriousness of the operation, complications after cardiac bypass surgery rarely occur. If they do occur, it is usually swelling or inflammatory processes. Wound bleeding occurs very rarely. Inflammation is manifested by weakness, fever, chest pain, and heart failure. Complications of this kind can be a manifestation of an acute reaction of the immune system to tissue transplantation, even if it is your own.

There are very rare complications, but they can still occur, albeit in isolated cases. These include the following conditions:

  • stroke;
  • blood clot formation;
  • poor bone healing;
  • keloid scars;
  • decreased kidney function, even to the point of failure;
  • postperfusion syndrome;
  • Chronic pain in the heart area.

The likelihood of complications directly depends on the preoperative condition, quality examination and preparation of the patient. Therefore, such increased attention is paid to these processes. The consequences of shunts may be minimal, you just need to follow your doctor’s recommendations and take your health seriously.

Rehabilitation after cardiac bypass surgery

After heart bypass surgery at home, special conditions for the rehabilitation period must be observed. You will have to change your diet and lifestyle. Only proper recovery will help your body quickly return to its previous state and eliminate the likelihood of complications. In the first time after surgery, it may be necessary to prevent congestion in the lungs. To do this, you will need to inflate the balloon up to 20 times a day. When you inhale deeply, the lungs will expand and ventilate well.


Diet

A special diet is required after cardiac bypass surgery. Its essence is to eliminate the possibility of the formation of cholesterol plaques that “clog” blood vessels.

  • exclusion of products with animal fats from the diet;
  • you can follow diet No. 12 or 15;
  • immediately after the operation you can only drink and eat liquid food;
  • food is gradually introduced in the form of purees;
  • Hard and solid food should not be included in the diet; nutrition should be exclusively dietary.

After heart bypass surgery, hemoglobin levels often decrease. To increase it you need to eat beef, liver and buckwheat porridge.

Lifestyle

Life after cardiac bypass surgery should be significantly changed. The changes concern the following points:

  • physical activity and heavy lifting are contraindicated;
  • , since nicotine destroys shunts and significantly reduces their service life;
  • using a corset that is worn on the chest will allow the bone to heal properly and eliminate the possibility of seams coming apart.

Rehabilitation usually takes up to three months; for some, two months are enough to restore the functioning of the heart muscle and immune system, normalize blood composition and even heal the sternum. After three months, it is already possible to lead an active lifestyle. At this time, a stress test is carried out, which will clearly show the body’s abilities.


Now let's look at disability - an important issue for many. Do they give you disability after heart disease? To receive a group, in any case, you need to pass a commission. The person is examined, the necessary documents are studied and conclusions are drawn regarding permanent disability. Heart surgery is a reason to refer the patient to a medical commission. To do this, the attending physician writes out a package note.

According to statistics, no more than 8% of people after heart bypass surgery manage to receive a disability group. In most cases, temporary disability is established, which lasts no more than a year. After this time, you will have to re-confirm your disability.

Forecast

A large amount of research has been conducted regarding cardiac bypass surgery, patient well-being, improved quality of life and increased life expectancy, among other things. Based on the results of these data, you can make a forecast about how long they live after surgery, what positive changes occur in the body, and draw a conclusion for yourself about the need for it.

  1. Life expectancy increases in all cases. No one will undertake to name exact numbers, since many factors must be taken into account here. But in any case, a person can live much longer.
  2. The likelihood of developing a myocardial infarction is reduced significantly.
  3. Quality of life increases compared to drug therapeutic treatment.

No matter how difficult the operation to bypass the heart vessels may be, no matter how much it costs, the result justifies all the efforts and expenses. If there are indications for such treatment, then you need to decide on surgical intervention.

“How long do they live after heart bypass surgery” is one of the most important questions for those who are undergoing it. Most likely, the person asking such a question means that the end of life will occur precisely because of atherosclerosis of the heart vessels. The same plaques that caused the CABG operation. In other words, how many years will the therapeutic effect of the operation last?

Small spoiler. I am writing about my personal experience; I had surgery in 2013. For January 2019 I can reliably All I can say is that almost 6 years have passed since the bypass. Over the years I have managed to get seriously involved in a sports lifestyle. and much more , including “dealing” with type 2 diabetes. Now I'm in good shape several times over the summerI run a distance of 25 km.
The truth is that exactly to your question: “How long do they live after bypass surgery?“no one will answer, and if they do, then it’s either God or a deceiver. It’s like asking a passerby: “Can you tell me when I’m going to die?” There are probably statistics on life expectancy after bypass surgery, but they can’t be precise. And here's why.

Reasons for inaccurate statistics

1. The bypass surgery itself is quite new. Most of us learned about such an operation in 1996, when it was assigned to B.N. Yeltsin, the President of the Russian Federation. They began to do it en masse not so long ago. Even in the early 2000s this was still rare. In 2013, in the city of Samara, with a population of one million, in the Clinics of Samara State Medical University, where I had the opportunity to undergo surgery, it was performed on 2-3 patients a day. Subtract from the number of days a year the weekends and the summer heat period of 2.5-3 months, when operations are not carried out, and you will get a rather modest result.

2. Observation of patients after surgery is generally very rare. They operated on him, discharged him or put him on disability, and forgot about him. The patient is placed under the supervision of a cardiologist at his place of residence. This is usually a cardiologist at a clinic. Here you can write a lot and a lot about how satisfied we are with the work of the clinic’s specialists, including herself, but I won’t do that. Probably everyone has formed their own opinion on this matter.
But the fact is that if the patient once again suddenly does not come to the cardiologist because he has already gone to an appointment where there are no clinics, fuss and diseases, then what is the likelihood that the cause of death will be accurately determined? Maybe the cause of death has nothing to do with atherosclerosis, or maybe the person did not die at all, but, for example, moved to another country.

Statistics taken from the Internet

I looked at several sites citing “some studies” about the life expectancy of bypass surgery, but no data on the studies themselves. It is not known by whom they were carried out, on what groups of people (by age, region of residence, etc.). Such articles do not provide details.
You know, it's sad, but most likely it's just another "blah blah blah." Websites sell or advertise something there, they have their own goals, they attract the public as best they can, but our goal is to understand and understand the essence of the issue.
There is truth and quite reliable sources, that's whatthe writer talks about himselfJoseph Piscatella 33 years after CABG. Such examples are inspiring!

How does bypass surgery affect life expectancy?

1.Improving blood supply to the heart muscle.

Impact of bypass surgery on life expectancy
If the operation went well and the effect for which it was done was achieved, then the conclusion is obvious. The main result of the operation is improved blood supply to the heart itself. And since it is better supplied with oxygen and nutrition, then, accordingly, there is less wear and tear and lasts longer.

2. Reducing the risk of heart attack.

The risk of a heart attack is reduced significantly, since myocardial infarction is nothing more than the death (scarring) of a cardiac segment as a result of a sharp lack of blood supply. A heart attack is often fatal, especially when it is not the first in combat, so here the conclusion is obvious. Bypass surgery reduces the risk of sudden death due to a large heart attack.

3. Fight against atherosclerosis.

Bypass surgery makes it possible to lead an active lifestyle and improve your physical fitness. Actually, this is probably why it’s worth doing it. After all, a sedentary, sedentary lifestyle leads to atherosclerosis. And if you don’t change it, then everything will happen again.

4. Restoration of depressed myocardial segments.

This is not a guaranteed consequence of the operation. Although, what is guaranteed in our lives?

The segments were essentially already “dead”. Yes, it was unexpected bonus whenIt turned out that such “revival” occurs after surgery.
It so happened that before the bypass no one talked about it. Perhaps so as not to create unnecessary expectations. What could be worse than unjustified hopes? And so, I didn’t know, and I didn’t even know. I found out a couple of weeks after CABG, when they did another ECHO. Two segments “came to life” due to the fact that the blood flow to them was normalized. In addition, I was told that there are cases of later recovery of the depressed segments of the heart.

How did heart bypass surgery benefit me?

I write based on personal experience, so only the facts:

  1. Two of the depressed segments of the heart recovered.
  2. There is an opportunity to lead physically active lifestyle.
  3. Blood pressure normalized.
  4. Body weight returned to normal.
  5. Blood sugar levels have dropped.

What is the connection between bypass surgery and blood sugar levels, you ask? Straight! And they are connected by physical education and an active lifestyle.

Opportunity to lead a physically active lifestyle

In the end, the main driver of atherosclerosis and coronary artery bypass grafting is immobility, forgive the tautology. Slowly but surely, under constant supervision, started running.
In the end, I ran up to such a physical shape that, in my sixth decade of life, allows me to feel like I was 25. Of course, this is not sports running, this is jogging. Bye. Meanwhile, three years after the operation, my physical fitness became such that on any day, regardless of the fatigue of the previous day, I could already run 10 kilometers. The morning ten has become as familiar to me as a cup of coffee.

Consequences of an active lifestyle

We can say that the body has become younger. In general, after the word “rejuvenated” there seems to be nothing to say. It is enough to delve deeply into the essence.
Just imagine that these are not empty words, but a fait accompli. I wonder what you would give to lose 5 or 10 years?

Meanwhile, here's what the side effects of physical activity look like:

  1. My body weight returned to normal and became stable.
  2. Blood sugar levels returned to normal.
  3. Blood pressure normalized to a stable 125/60. And this after many years of hypertension!

Completely gone overweight

There is simply not a gram of it, not even a kilogram. And this is lightness. Ease of movement, lightness of soul, ease of life.

  • The spine no longer needs to bear this extra weight, these fatty tissues, it’s easy for it!
  • The cardiovascular system does not need to supply useless fat with oxygen and other nutrition, it’s easy for the heart!
  • The digestive system does not have to bother with excess food in order to extract food from it for excess fat. It's easy for her!
You can continue down to the smallest details, you can do it yourself.

Blood sugar levels returned to normal

Type 2 diabetes- This is a subject of my special pride. Because it was possible to achieve stable compensation. I started working with diabetes several years before the operation and achieved very good success, having learned plan a proper diet.
Something was missing then, either intelligence, or such a good shake-up as CABG provided, to add to the diet sufficient mobility. And finally, after coronary artery bypass surgery, everything came together!
It took four years to achieve full compensation for type 2 diabetes. Yes, if you have such a diagnosis, then do not believe that there is no cure for it. Actually, it’s better not to believe that this is a disease in principle. Because it's not really a disease. This is a metabolic disorder, a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism, which results in an excess amount of glucose in the blood. Do you understand? Violation. It's like a breakdown that needs repair. This is not a death sentence, as I thought back in 2008, when I was hospitalized with acetone in my urine.

A lyrical digression that will probably be useful for you to understand how atherosclerosis and diabetes are related.

Type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis

By the way, it was diabetes that led me to bypass surgery. This is a paradox. The paradox is that, in fact, thanks to bypass surgery, it finally happened completely compensate for diabetes.

The main problem with diabetes is disturbances in the nutrition of blood vessels, especially small vessels, where blood flow is also weakened due to thickening of the blood. The vessels become brittle, damaged, lose elasticity, weaken, in a word. The body “patches” them as best it can. In areas of particularly dangerous damage, he applies “patches” of sticky cholesterol to them (like a sealant). And here’s to you: “Hello, vascular atherosclerosis!” And no amount of cholesterol reduction will help here. No matter how little lipoproteins there are in the blood, the body will still continue to “patch” the vessels, because this is much less of a disaster than the internal bleeding that will occur if the artery does leak.

In fact, the plaques that we don’t like so much are an attempt to save ourselves, just as our body itself does. Probably, leaks crudely plugged with rags would also look ugly in a wooden boat. But when the boat begins to leak, the boatman does not think about whether to caulk it or not. He understands that if the cracks are not plugged, the leak will lead to his death. Therefore, no matter how little rags or oakum he has at hand, he will spend it all, so that even if he drowns, it will not be now, not right away. Likewise, our wise body understands in which places weakened blood vessels can burst, and in order not to die, it repairs these places, strengthens them with cholesterol patches, and then also calcinates them for greater strength.
Shunting in the analogy with a boat, since I began to draw such an analogy, can be imagined as an urgent repair. The boatman saw that the situation was very bad, that it was no longer possible to caulk a couple of boards, and, having dragged the boat onto the island, he tore off a couple of still strong boards (veins from the legs) from the upper part of the side and attached them instead of those in the bottom that were ready to completely fall apart .
Of course, this is a very simplified idea of ​​diabetes and atherosclerosis, but when you want to see the big picture as a whole, then move away at a decent distance, and look at the details on the contrary, being close. So here is the overall picture of atherosclerosis from a decent distance that's about it looks. We’ll also try to talk about the details, but we’ll just come closer.

Conclusion

Bypass surgery indirectly, but increases life expectancy, reducing the risk of heart attacks and improving the functioning of the human cardiovascular system as a whole.

After CABG, depressed segments of the heart can recover, at least one, and this is very cool!

Bypass surgery improves the quality of life and allows you to engage in physical activity (without fanaticism).

There are complications after bypass surgery. Just like after any other operation. Let's put them in a separate topic:

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Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death among the working population and older people worldwide. Myocardial infarction, which is the direct cause of death, is the result of a multi-year process that results in blockage of the coronary arteries of the heart. As a result of scientific and technological progress, it has become possible to perform CABG surgery - coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with coronary heart disease and a high risk of sudden death. How much did the life expectancy of these patients change after surgery?

Life expectancy after various types of heart surgery has always been of interest to both doctors and their patients. After all, any other operations do not carry such a risk: the liver is restored, a person can live without one kidney. When resection of the stomach, sometimes most of it is removed; you can live without several meters of intestine, without part of the pancreas and without the gallbladder.

Eunuchs can live for many years, and only the heart has always remained a “stumbling block” for cardiac surgeons: it cannot be resected, the heart can contract and perform its function only as a full-fledged organ. That is why cardiac surgeons developed operations that made it possible to preserve the heart as an organ, but at the same time significantly improve its function. This operation (or, more precisely, several variations of this operation) is called “heart bypass.”

What is CABG?

CABG (or coronary artery bypass grafting) is an operation in which arterial blood is supplied “bypassing” a narrowed vessel affected by atherosclerosis from the aorta. In this case, an “intermediate” vessel is needed, which is called a shunt. It will carry blood past the affected area. An autograft is used as a shunt, that is, its own vessel: artery or vein.

On average, each coronary artery bypass surgery lasts from 3 to 4 hours. A significant part of this time is spent not on making anastomoses between the aorta, bypass and coronary vessels, but on taking the autograft. In some cases, bypass surgery is performed on a beating heart. This is a favorable option: in this case, there is no need to use the services of a heart-lung machine, put the body into hypothermia and “stop the heart.”

Indications for surgery

The indication for such an operation is progressive angina, including post-infarction (otherwise called “silent”), in which myocardial ischemia is not accompanied by any pain syndrome. In this case, patients undergo a preliminary study - computer contrast angiography of the coronary arteries. If myocardial ischemia develops in a small area of ​​the vessel that can be “bypassed,” then there are sufficient indications for surgery.


If small branches are affected, atherosclerotic stenosis is numerous, and the coronary vessels are diffusely affected, then coronary artery bypass surgery is not indicated, since it will be useless. It will be like trying to carefully repair just one hole in a completely leaky roof.

Forecast

Often patients who need such an operation ask the doctor: “how long do they live after this operation”? People are worried not about the fact that they have a very high risk of sudden death before the operation, but about the fact that the doctor will perform any intervention on their heart. This psychological aversion to surgery is well known to doctors. However, after cardiac surgery to restore coronary blood flow, the prognosis is very good: in the case of a single site of narrowing of the coronary vessels, the risk of sudden death may be reduced to the average in the population for a given age. In other words, after coronary artery bypass surgery, a complete recovery is possible.

Restoration activities

Rehabilitation after cardiac bypass surgery begins in the hospital. Early activation of the patient is also necessary to ensure that the shunt works well and the appropriate amount of blood is pumped through it. Initially, of course, the main tasks are to restore spontaneous breathing after removing the patient from artificial ventilation. The next task should be to combat hypostatic pneumonia: the patient must train his lungs. Since the patient’s autografts are taken either from the lower leg (in the case of veins) or from the intrathoracic space (in the case of an arterial shunt), these wounds should also heal.

Now, after careful ECG monitoring, the patient's activation begins. The criterion for the effectiveness of the operation is the absence of signs of myocardial ischemia, both at rest and under those loads under which it was previously detected.
At first, the patient simply walks along the hospital corridor, then along the floors, recording the load time in a diary. At the same time, the patient undergoes Holter monitoring.

The next stage of rehabilitation should be sanatorium-resort treatment, the purpose of which is to generally strengthen the body, lower cholesterol levels and correct concomitant diseases. Only after this, the attending cardiologist prescribes a study that allows you to fully load the myocardium while simultaneously taking ECG readings. This is either a treadmill test (treadmill) or bicycle ergometry under load. If there are no signs of myocardial ischemia on the ECG, as well as no clinical signs of ischemia (chest pain, shortness of breath), the operation is considered successful and recovery is complete.

In conclusion, it must be said that in order for life after surgery to be long and fulfilling, you need to follow all medical instructions. You need to eat right, completely give up bad habits, keep your cholesterol “under control,” and also lead an active lifestyle, not forgetting to visit a cardiologist annually.

There are a large number of heart diseases, and each of them is dangerous for humans in its own way. But the most common and quite difficult to treat is considered to be blockage of blood vessels, when cholesterol plaques block the path of blood flow. In this case, the person is prescribed a special operation - bypass surgery of the heart vessels.

What is bypass surgery?

First of all, you need to understand what vascular bypass is, which is often the only way to restore their vital functions.

The disease is associated with poor passage of blood through the vessels leading to the heart. Circulatory disorders can occur in one or several coronary vessels-arteries at once. It is precisely this indication that implies such an operation as coronary artery bypass grafting.

After all, if even one vessel is blocked, it means that our heart does not receive the required amount of blood, and with it the nutrients and oxygen that saturate the heart, and from it - our entire body, with everything necessary for life. A lack of all these components can lead not only to serious disease of the cardiac system, but in some cases even leads to death.

Surgery or bypass surgery

If a person is already experiencing heart failure and there are signs that the blood vessels are clogged, the doctor may prescribe medication treatment. But if it is determined that drug treatment has not helped, then in this case an operation is prescribed - bypass surgery of the heart vessels. The operation is carried out in the following sequence:


This bypass is called a shunt. For proper blood flow in the human body, a new pathway is created that will function at full strength. This operation lasts about 4 hours, after which the patient is placed in an intensive care ward, where he is monitored by medical staff around the clock.

Positive aspects of the operation

Why should a person who has all the prerequisites for bypass surgery necessarily undergo surgery, and what exactly can coronary artery bypass surgery give him:

  • Completely restores blood flow in the area of ​​coronary vessels where there was poor patency.
  • After surgery, the patient returns to his normal lifestyle, but there are still some minor restrictions.
  • The risk of myocardial infarction is significantly reduced.
  • Angina goes into the background, and attacks are no longer observed.

The technique of performing the operation has been studied for a long time and is considered very effective, allowing to prolong the patient’s life for many years, so the patient should decide to bypass the heart vessels. Feedback from patients is only positive, most of them are satisfied with the outcome of the operation and their further condition.

But, like every surgical intervention, this procedure also has its disadvantages.

Possible complications during bypass surgery

Any surgical intervention is already a risk for a person, and intervention in the work of the heart is a special matter. What are the possible complications after cardiac bypass surgery?

  1. Bleeding.
  2. Thrombosis of deep venous vessels.
  3. Myocardial infarction.
  4. Stroke and various types of circulatory disorders in the brain.
  5. Surgical wound infections.
  6. Narrowing of the shunt.
  7. After surgery, the stitches may come apart.
  8. Chronic pain in the wound area.
  9. Keloid postoperative scar.

It seems that the operation was carried out successfully and there are no alarming notes. Why can complications occur? Could this be somehow related to the symptoms that were observed in the person before the bypass surgery was performed? Complications are possible if, shortly before surgery, the patient experienced:

  • unstable hemodynamics;
  • severe type of angina;
  • atherosclerosis of the carotid arteries.

In order to prevent all possible complications, before the operation the patient undergoes a series of studies and procedures.

However, it is possible to perform an operation using not only a blood vessel from the human body, but also a special metal stent.

Contraindications for stenting

The main advantage of stenting is that this procedure has almost no contraindications. The only exception can be the refusal of the patient himself.

But there are still some contraindications, and doctors take into account the severity of the pathologies and take all precautions to ensure that their impact on the course of the operation is minimal. Stenting or bypass surgery of cardiac vessels is contraindicated in people with renal or respiratory failure, with diseases that affect blood clotting, or with allergic reactions to drugs containing iodine.

In each of the above cases, the patient is first treated with therapy, its goal is to minimize the development of complications of the patient’s chronic diseases.

How is the stenting procedure performed?

After the patient is given an injection of anesthetic, a puncture is made in his arm or leg. It is necessary so that a plastic tube - an introducer - can be inserted into the body through it. It is necessary so that all the necessary instruments for stenting can then be inserted through it.

A long catheter is inserted through a plastic tube into the damaged part of the vessel and installed in the coronary artery. After this, a stent is inserted over it, but with a deflated balloon.

Under pressure from the contrast agent, the balloon inflates and expands the vessel. The stent remains in a person's coronary vessel for life. The duration of such an operation depends on the extent to which the patient’s vessels are damaged, and can reach up to 4 hours.

The operation is performed using X-ray equipment, which allows you to accurately determine the location where the stent should be placed.

Types of stents

The usual form of a stent is a thin metal tube that is inserted into the vessel; it has the ability to grow into tissue after a certain period of time. Taking this feature into account, a type with a special medicinal coating was created, which increases the operational life of the artificial vessel. The likelihood of a positive prognosis for the patient’s life also increases.

First days after surgery

After a patient has undergone cardiac bypass surgery, for the first days he is under the close attention of doctors. After the operating room, he is sent to the intensive care ward, where his heart function is restored. It is very important during this period that the patient’s breathing is correct. Before the operation, he is taught how he will have to breathe after the operation. The first rehabilitation measures are carried out in the hospital, which should be continued in the future, but in a rehabilitation center.

Most patients, after such a rather complex heart operation, return to the life they led before it.

Rehabilitation after surgery

As after any type of surgery, the patient cannot do without the recovery stage. Rehabilitation after cardiac bypass surgery continues for 14 days. But this does not mean that a person who has undergone such a complex procedure can continue to lead the same lifestyle as before the illness.

He definitely needs to reconsider his life. The patient should completely remove drinks containing alcohol from his diet and quit smoking, since these habits can become provocateurs for a further rapid progression of the disease. Remember, no one will give you a guarantee that the next operation will be completed successfully. This call suggests that it is time to lead a healthy lifestyle.

One of the main factors to avoid relapse is diet after cardiac bypass surgery.

Diet and nutrition after surgery

After a person who has undergone bypass surgery returns home, he wants to eat food that is familiar to him, and not the diet cereals that he was given in the hospital. But the person can no longer eat the way he did before the operation. He needs special food. After bypass surgery of the heart vessels, the menu will have to be revised; the amount of fat must be minimized.

You should not eat fried fish and meat, take margarine and butter in small doses and preferably not every day, and remove ghee from your diet altogether, replacing it with olive oil. But don't worry, you can eat unlimited amounts of red meat, poultry and turkey. Doctors do not recommend eating lard and pieces of meat with layers of fat.

The diet of a person who has undergone such a serious operation as heart bypass surgery should include a lot of fruits and vegetables after the operation. Drinking 200 g of freshly squeezed orange juice every morning will have a very good effect on your heart health. Nuts - walnuts and almonds - should be present in your diet every day. Blackberries are very useful, as they are rich in antioxidants, and they help lower blood cholesterol levels.

Fatty dairy products should also be avoided. It is better to take dietary bread, which does not contain either butter or margarine.

Try to limit yourself to carbonated drinks, drink more purified water, you can drink coffee and tea, but without sugar.

Life after surgery

None of the methods for treating heart disease and vasodilation can be considered ideal, which would eliminate the disease for life. The problem is that after the expansion of the vessel walls in one place, no one can guarantee that after a while atherosclerotic plaques will not block another vessel. Atherosclerosis is a disease that continues to progress, and there is no final cure for it.

For several days after surgery, the patient spends 2-3 days in the hospital and then is discharged. The patient’s future life after bypass surgery depends only on him; he must follow all the doctor’s instructions, which concern not only nutrition, exercise, but also supportive medications.

Only the attending doctor can give a list of medications, and each patient has his own, because concomitant diseases are also taken into account. There is one medicine that is prescribed to all patients who have undergone bypass surgery - this is the drug Clopidogrel. It helps thin the blood and prevents the formation of new plaques.

It should be taken for a long time, sometimes up to two years, as it helps slow down the progression of atherosclerosis in the blood vessels. The effect will only be if the patient completely limits himself to eating fatty foods, alcohol and smoking.

Stenting or bypass surgery is a gentle operation that allows long-term restoration of blood flow through the vessels of the heart, but the positive effect of it depends only on the patient himself. A person must be as careful as possible, follow all the recommendations of the attending doctor, and only in this case will he be able to return to work and not feel any inconvenience.

There is no need to be afraid of bypass surgery, because after it all your symptoms will disappear and you will begin to breathe deeply again. If surgery is recommended to you, then you should agree, because no other treatment for thrombosis and atherosclerotic plaques in blood vessels has yet been invented.