What is meant by bypass surgery? Things you really need to know

Bypass surgery is a surgical procedure where deficiency in the blood supply can be corrected by creating an alternate blood supply using arterial or venous grafts taken from the patient’s own body. When this is done in the arteries supplying the heart, it is called coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

What is the difference in the outcome between venous grafts taken from the legs and arterial grafts taken from the hands?

Though cholesterol deposition can occur in both venous grafts and arterial grafts used for bypassing, studies have shown that arterial grafts stays patent more than the venous grafts.

What is the risk to life during bypass surgery?

With advanced surgical techniques and intensive post-operative monitoring, coronary artery bypass grafting is a relatively safe procedure with an overall mortality rate of less than 1%.

How much blood is lost during bypass surgery?

With the advent of beating heart coronary artery bypass grafting, the blood loss during the surgery is minimal and seldom requires blood transfusion.

What is the duration of the hospital stay for bypass surgery?

On an average patients undergoing bypass surgery may have to stay in the hospital for about ten days.

What are the diet restrictions after the bypass surgery?

Diabetic patients have to be on strict diabetic diet. Generally, after bypass surgery patients should avoid fat containing food items. Avoid bakery items except bread. No red meat, Egg yellow, Prawns, Lobsters, Crabs. Use less oil for cooking. Any oil should be used in moderate quantity. Low salt diet/ low fat diet. No papads.

What about family life after bypass surgery?

Patients who have undergone bypass surgery can resume normal family life three months after surgery.