Bypass surgery is a procedure performed for most types of coronary artery blockages. During the procedure, a surgeon accesses the heart and the diseased arteries through an incision made in the middle of the chest. The purpose of bypass surgery is to increase the circulation and nourishment to the heart muscle.
Most often, healthy arteries or veins are taken from the leg, wrist or chest to create bypass grafts that channel the needed blood flow around the blocked portions of the coronary arteries. The arteries or veins are connected from the aorta to the surface of the heart beyond the blockages forming a graft. This allows the blood to flow through them and bypass the narrowed or closed points.
What Is "Traditional" Bypass Surgery?
Coronary artery bypass surgery became routine in the late 1950s with the invention of the heart-lung machine. With traditional bypass surgery, surgeons use the assistance of the heart-lung machine along with medications to stop the heart so the bypass can be performed on a motionless field. The heart-lung machine is referred to as a pump because it continues to mechanically pump oxygen and nutrients to the body during surgery.
How Long Do Vein Grafts Last?
Some patients require a second operation in later years because of closure of the vein grafts and the development of recurrent angina. It is difficult to predict with certainty how long the vein grafts will last. In some cases, new blockages in the original artery below the point of attachment of the graft is the cause for closure.Control of further coronary artery blockages can be reduced by correcting the risk factors for coronary artery disease. This means no smoking, maintenance of a low cholesterol diet, control of blood pressure, regular exercise, consumption of fruits and vegetables, and avoidance of saturated fats and stress.
When Is Bypass Surgery Necessary?
Bypass surgery may be needed for various reasons, such as an angioplasty that did not sufficiently widen the blood vessel, or blockages that cannot be reached by, or are too long or hard for, angioplasty. In certain cases, bypass surgery may be preferred. For instance, it may be used for persons who have both coronary heart disease and diabetes.A bypass also can close again. This happens in more than 10 percent of bypass surgeries, usually after 10 or more years.
Biography: Bill Clinton
Interactive: Virtual Heart
