Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) operation Q&A

What is coronary heart disease?

Coronary heart disease occurs when coronary arteries become narrowed, or even blocked, by fatty deposits. The arteries then cannot supply the heart muscle with enough blood to meet its oxygen needs.

What are the symptoms of coronary heart disease?

Common symptoms include angina (a pain or feeling of tightness in the chest, arms, neck, jaw or stomach which occurs on exertion and lasts around 15 minutes), breathlessness, lethargy, and, in extreme cases, heart attack.

How is coronary heart disease treated?

Medicines are available to treat the symptoms, such as angina, but if these are no longer able to control the condition, or if it is feared the patient may be at a risk of a heart attack, surgery, called revascularisation, may be recommended.

Why do I need a heart bypass operation?

You may need a heart bypass operation in the following circumstances:

  • If you have narrowed arteries that reduce the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart
  • If you have angina (chest pain) when you are active
  • If you continue to have angina pain, despite taking medication for it
  • If you've had a coronary angioplasty (an operation to clear the blockage in your blood vessels), that has failed
  • If your doctor thinks you are at high risk of heart attack
  • If you have a narrowed artery that isn't suitable for treatment with a coronary angioplasty

Who decides where I am treated?

You are allowed to choose which hospital you are treated in, from the hospitals listed in Dr Foster Health's Hospital Guide. You will have a specialist advisor who can help you make this choice.

How long will I have to wait for heart bypass surgery?

Waiting times will vary depending on how serious your condition is. Under the NHS ‘Extending Choice' programme, patients who have waited for more than six months will be offered a choice to move to another hospital that has a shorter waiting list.

Will my heart bypass operation be cancelled?

Sometimes it is necessary to cancel operations on the day scheduled for surgery (maybe because there is an emergency to deal with or staff has been called away). If this happens to you, the hospital will re-schedule your operation to take place as soon as possible.

How often does the hospital perform the operation?

It is recommended that each surgeon should perform reasonable numbers of bypass operations in order to maintain an adequate level of training in the procedure. Similarly, a certain minimum number of bypass operations should be carried out in each hospital to maintain enough experience in the area. The Department of Health recommends that each surgeon should carry out at least 50 heart bypass operations every year (1).

What will happen when I return home?

You will need to have someone to stay with you during your first few weeks at home. If that isn't possible, talk to your medical team at the hospital, or your GP, and see if extra care can be provided for you. Even if you don't need this, you should let your GP know once you're home from hospital.

Infolinks

Reference:

  1. NHS - Our Healthier Nation | Modern Standards and Service Models: Coronary Heart Disease; Chapter 5: Revascularisation(pdf) | Accessed Sep 2009 | 16609 1P 30k Mar 2000 (CWP)

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