Today, the number of patients with cardiovascular disease is increasing. Many environmental, genetic and psychological factors can trigger heart diseases. As a result of not treating chest pain in a timely manner, patients may experience sudden heart attack attacks. Prolonged neglect of treatment can even lead to death. Bypass surgery, which is one of the most frequently used methods in the treatment of heart diseases; It is especially preferred in cases where the heart cannot be fed adequately and cannot perform its function as a result of narrowing in the coronary arteries. Bypass literally means "bridging". Constrictions can occur in any part of the arteries in the human body. In order to preserve the vitality of the area fed by the artery, the vein is removed from another part of the body and prepared.
Blood circulation is restored by transferring the prepared vein to the sick area. This surgical intervention is called bypass. Coronary bypass surgery is a surgical intervention performed as a result of occlusion of the arteries that feed the heart, called coronary arteries.
What is Coronary Bypass surgery and how is it performed?
Coronary bypass surgery can be performed in two ways: In a stopped heart In a working heart In the first method While the heart is completely stopped and the circulation in the body is maintained by a heart pump, the bridging process is carried out. The heart pump takes over the duties of the patient's lungs and heart during the surgery, providing blood pumping to the brain and other vital organs. In the second method, surgery is performed without stopping the heart and without the need for a heart pump. Veins such as the patient's leg vein, forearm artery, and thoracic artery are used for bridging.
The operation is performed under general anesthesia. For the vein to be taken from the chest, the sternum is cut with the help of a bone saw and the thorax is opened. Generally, the mammary artery in the left breast is used. For the vein to be taken from the leg, an incision is made in the leg, and the vein of sufficient length for the bypass is removed. One end of the removed vessel is sutured to the coronary artery below the occluded area. The sternum is tied with strong wires and the surgical area is sutured.
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How long does the bypass surgery take?
Factors such as the method of operation or the number of bypasses determine the duration of the operation. While in the old-style method, the thorax was opened from side to side, today surgical procedures can be performed with small incisions called minimally invasive. As a result of stopping the heart, the classical surgery method using a heart pump or the application of the method called OBCAP changes the duration of the operation. It is possible to say that the duration of the operation is between 3-6 hours.
Should the veins required for the surgery be taken from the patient?
The veins taken from another part of the body for bypass they do not cause loss of function on the ground. Foreign tissues or synthetic vessels are not used to perform this operation. The arteries or veins required for bridging must be taken from the patient's own body.
Who is the bypass for?
Bpass is required in the following conditions and disorders:
Multi-vessel diseases
Inability to open more than one coronary vessel by non-surgical (balloon and stenting) method
Conditions requiring heart valve operation
Reocclusion of one or more vessels despite non-surgical opening
>Having another heart condition that requires surgery
What are the risks of bypass?
The risk of surgery depends on demographic factors such as the patient's age, gender, lifestyle, and chronic diseases. The risk of death in the operation is very low. The surgery is usually done by older people and most of the patients have disorders in more than one organ. The weakness of the heart muscle as a result of the patient's previous heart diseases increases the risk of surgery. The loss of function in the patient's systems other than the circulatory system may also directly increase the risk factors. Some patients may experience psychological trauma after the operation. This situation can be overcome by getting psychological support.
Is bypass the definitive solution?
Bypass is not a stand-alone solution for healing. As a result of the operation, vascular occlusions and narrowings are opened for the moment. Atherosclerosis does not disappear as a result of surgical intervention. The patient is prevented from having a heart attack, dying suddenly, and being restricted from society due to drug addiction. For this reason, surgery alone does not eliminate the risk of the disease. Patients should regulate their lives after the operation, avoid harmful foods and beverages, and abandon their bad habits and live with quality. poor vascular structure Performing the first operation at an early age Risk of atherosclerosis Not bridging all vessels in the first operation Having chronic diseases such as diabetes (diabetes) and kidney disease Continuing to smoke Inadequate treatment of high cholesterol and triglycerides
Bypass surgery How long is the recovery period after the operation?
The patient who is released from the intensive care unit after the operation should start breathing exercises. The patient, whose respirator is removed, starts exercises with the help of a physiotherapist. In surgical interventions under general anesthesia, sputum increase is observed in the bronchi. While the wastes are cleaned with the help of an aspirator while connected to the respirator, patient wastes can be cleaned by doing breathing exercises after leaving the respirator. The bypassed patient needs to stay in the hospital for four to seven days, depending on the situation. If everything is normal at the end of this period, the patient is discharged. A week later, the patient comes back for control.
The patient may need to use compression stockings. In the first stage of the recovery period, you should be at home, but you should act without being tied to the bed. After the surgery, it is possible to return to normal life and carry out daily activities at the end of one month at the earliest. During this period, the patient may encounter problems such as not being able to turn sideways and driving a car. Full recovery occurs after six months. At the end of the healing of the cut bone and thorax during the operation, the patient fully recovers. Any activity that a normal person would do, can go to work, drive a car.
How to live after surgery?
Before surgery, physicians often have difficulties in changing their patients' lifestyles. . Diet, regular use of medications and healthy living advice mostly ignored. After the surgery, the situation is different. Patients who realize the seriousness of the surgery and the disease after the bypass apply the recommendations more carefully. After the operation, attention should be paid to the following situations: If the patient smokes, he should definitely quit immediately. Avoid doing heavy sports He should use drugs regularly and eat red meat once or twice a week. Foods that protect heart health should be consumed in abundance, and if necessary, help from nutrition and diet experts should be sought in order to lose excess weight as soon as possible. The use of cholesterol medication in the required dose increases the rate of openness of the bypassed vessels.
Rehabilitation sessions after bypass should be attended regularly. This is very effective for patients who want to return to their old lives to overcome psychological trauma. Since sudden changes in the heart rate can cause heart problems, dangerous combat sports that use weights and have a very intense tempo should be avoided. Swimming can be practiced frequently because it is a sport that works all the muscles in the body and can also do breathing exercises. Walking is the easiest sport. If possible, regular nature walks should be made in the open and fresh air. Activities such as table tennis and dance, which can be done with a partner, also contribute to the health of the patient and enable him to socialize. .
For your questions about Bypass, you can consult the expert team of Grup Florence Nightingale Hospitals. You can reach our expert team by using the contact form or by calling 444 0436.
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