Risks of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery

A coronary artery bypass graft (CABG or heart bypass) operation does involve some risk, as does any operation.

The chance of complications depends on the exact type of procedure you are having and other factors, such as your general health. Ask your surgeon to explain how these risks apply to you.

For many people, the risks from the heart bypass operation are outweighed by the benefits.

If successful, a CABG operation can:

  • Control your angina
  • Reduce the amount of medication you are taking
  • Make you feel better and live life more fully
  • Increase your chance of living longer

Temporary side-effects from CABG include:

  • Discomfort caused by the surgical site, which lasts for a few weeks
  • Swelling and soreness, if a vein has been removed from the leg or arm
  • You will have a large scar down the length of your sternum from the main operation and a scar on the areas where the vein was taken. Scarring will be red to begin with, but should fade over time to a faint white line
  • Short-term memory loss and problems with concentration are believed to be caused by the blood going through the heart-lung bypass machine. The memory loss usually lessen within six months of the operation
  • You may also feel quite emotional - anxiety and depression are quite common after CABG surgery. Again, discuss your concerns with your GP (1)

Specific complications of a CABG, although rare, can include:

  • Bleeding during or soon after the procedure
  • Infection
  • Abnormal reaction to the anaesthetic
  • Heart attack
  • Kidney failure
  • Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
  • Stroke

Infolinks

Reference:

  1. McHugh, Lindsay & Hanlon et al | A nurse-led intervention reduced risk factors, anxiety, and depression in patients waiting for CABG: a randomised controlled trial | Evidence-Based Medicine (2002); 7: p 44 | DOI: 10.1136/ebm.7.2.44

All Dr Foster health content is provided for general information only and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional, or relied upon as a source of comprehensive practitioner material.

All Dr Foster health content has been peer reviewed by GPs and is updated anually when necessary.

Dr Foster is not responsible or liable for any diagnosis made or treatment given by a user based on the content of the supplied health content. Dr Foster is not liable for the contents of any external internet sites listed, nor does it endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or advised on any of the sites.

Always consult your own GP if you are concerned about your health.