Known as heart bypass or bypass surgery, this is a surgical procedure performed to relieve angina and to treat coronary artery disease. Arteries or veins from elsewhere in your body are grafted to the coronary arteries to bypass the diseased arteries and improve the blood supply to the heart circulation supplying the heart.
What's involved in having a heart bypass operation?
Heart bypass surgery is a major operation during which you will be anaesthetised. Your cardiac surgeon will remove small portions of arteries or veins from your legs, arms or chest. These will then be connected to the arteries around your heart, taking over from portions which are not functioning properly. Incisions will be made in your chest wall to enable the surgeon to access your heart. These will be stiched closed at the end of the operation.
After the procedure you will be moved to the intensive care unit of the hospital to recover initially before being moved to your room. You can expect to spend around 4-5 days in hospital.