What is Coronary Bypass?
Coronary bypass surgery is a procedure that redirects blood flow around narrowed or blocked heart arteries using blood vessels (grafts) taken from other parts of the body. This surgery improves blood supply to the heart, reducing symptoms such as chest pain and increasing the patient’s lifespan.
Which Blood Vessels Are Used as Grafts?
Arterial grafts: Internal mammary artery, radial artery, arteries of the abdominal wall and stomach.
Venous grafts: Usually taken from the legs, rarely from the arm. Even when these veins are taken, leg circulation is not seriously affected.
Conventional Bypass Surgery Method
In this technique:
The breastbone is cut lengthwise to open the chest cavity.
The patient is connected to a heart-lung machine.
Necessary graft connections are made.
In suitable patients, the procedure can also be performed while the heart is still beating (without stopping it).
Heart Bypass Treatments
Coronary Bypass (Conventional Incision)
It is the restoration of blood flow by grafting healthy vessels beyond the blockage in cases where the coronary arteries are blocked.
Minimally Invasive Bypass Surgery
Bypass surgery is performed through a small incision of a few centimeters without fully opening the breastbone to reach the heart and bypass the blocked arteries.
Recovery Process and Return to Daily Life
- The recovery process after minimally invasive surgery can usually be completed in about 3 weeks.
- The time spent in intensive care can be reduced to 1 day.
- Since the breastbone is not cut, the risk of infection decreases.
- A more comfortable sleeping position accelerates healing.
- Patients can return to work and social life in a short time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Coronary bypass is a procedure that creates a new pathway around a blockage in the heart arteries using blood vessels (grafts) taken from another part of the body to restore blood flow.
No. Minimally invasive coronary bypass is not suitable for every patient. Suitability is determined based on the patient’s vessel structure, disease extent, and the surgeon’s assessment.
Recovery after minimally invasive surgery typically takes 2-3 weeks. During this time, patients can return to daily activities faster and resume work sooner compared to conventional methods.
The internal mammary artery, radial artery, gastric or abdominal wall arteries can be used as grafts. Additionally, veins taken from the leg are commonly preferred.
As with any surgical procedure, coronary bypass surgery carries certain risks. These risks may vary depending on the patient’s age, overall health, smoking habits, heart function, and any existing medical conditions. Modern techniques have significantly reduced these risks.