A cardiothoracic surgeon performs the operation, along with the help of the heart team. The team includes an anesthesiologist, a perfusionist (heart-lung bypass machine specialist), other surgeons, nurses, and technicians.
During CABG, the surgeon uses your own veins or arteries to “bypass” narrowed areas of the coronary arteries. Oxygen-rich blood is routed around the blockage, creating a new path and restoring blood flow to the heart muscle. You may have more than one bypass done at a time, depending on how many coronary arteries are blocked.
Once recovered, most patients experience good results, with symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath reduced or eliminated altogether. In addition, CABG may improve your quality of life and help you resume a more active lifestyle.
According to the American Heart Association, CABG is the most common type of heart surgery, with more than 500,000 performed each year.
Who is in the operating room?
Knowing who will be in the operating room with you can help put your mind at ease. In addition to your cardiothoracic surgeon, there likely will be several other people in the room, including:
- A surgical assistant who is one of the surgeon’s partners, a physician assistant, or a cardiothoracic surgical resident who will help, as needed, during the operation.
- An anesthesiologist who is in charge of administering anesthesia and monitoring vital signs.
- Perfusionists who operate the heart-lung bypass machine and other technical equipment that supports the surgery.
- Nurses and technicians who assist the surgical team and prepare the operating room.
What will happen during the operation?
On the day of your surgery, you will meet with the anesthesiologist, who will review with you any previous complications or concerns that you have about undergoing general anesthesia. Your anesthesiologist will discuss the risks and benefits of anesthesia, as well as any possible side effects and complications. You’ll receive general anesthesia, which means you won’t be awake for the operation.
Once you’re asleep, a tube is put into your windpipe through your mouth, a process called intubation. This tube is then attached to a ventilator that provides oxygen and helps you breathe. In addition, a soft, flexible tube called a catheter will be placed in your bladder to remove any urine. Your medical team will monitor your vital signs, such as blood pressure, heart rhythm, and blood oxygen levels during the operation.
Your surgeon will make a 6-to-8-inch incision along the middle of the chest. The cut will go through the breastbone in order to access the heart and see the coronary arteries. Your coronary arteries are found on the front and back surfaces of the heart. Next, the surgeon will prepare the arteries or remove the veins that will be used as “grafts” to build your bypass. The surgeon may remove a piece of healthy blood vessel from the inside of your leg, your forearm, or just behind your chest wall.
While your chest cavity is being opened, the surgeon’s assistant may begin harvesting healthy blood vessels from your arm or leg. The harvested veins are placed in sterile saline solution and cut into appropriate lengths when the surgeon is ready.
How long does CABG take?
The length of time the operation takes will vary based on the type of CABG performed, number of vessels being bypassed, the graft location, your medical history, and other special needs you may have. In general, CABG takes 3 to 6 hours.
What are the risks of CABG?
CABG has been proven to be safe and effective, but like all surgeries, it may result in serious complications:
- Blood clots that can increase your chances of stroke, heart attack, or lung problems
- Bleeding during or after the surgery
- Wound infection and bleeding
- Reactions to anesthesia
- Abnormal heart rhythms
- Pneumonia
- Breathing problems
- Fever and pain
- Kidney failure
- Memory loss and trouble concentrating or thinking clearly
Many things affect these risks, including your age, how many bypasses you get, and any other medical conditions you may have. Typically, the risk of complications is higher if CABG is performed in an emergency situation (for example, during a heart attack), if you’re older than 70, or if you have a history of smoking. Be sure to discuss these risks with your surgeon before the operation.
You can access the STS Risk Calculator, which can help calculate your risk of death or other complications from certain types of heart surgery, including CABG. The results can help you and your doctor to determine the best course of treatment. The STS National Database has collected information from millions of patients in order to predict risk and assure quality associated with CABG.
For more information about complications, check out the blog “Complications After Cardiothoracic Surgery: What Went Wrong?”.
Recovery in the hospital
When you wake up from surgery, you will feel groggy. You’ll be in the intensive care unit (ICU), where you’ll spend 1 to 2 days. Your heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels will be checked regularly during this time. While you are in the ICU, your family will be able to visit you briefly.
Through an intravenous (IV) line in your arm, you’ll receive fluids and medications. The breathing tube will remain in place until you are awake and able to breathe on your own. You also will still have the catheter in your bladder to drain urine. When you’re able to get up and use the bathroom on your own, the nurses will remove it. The chest tubes will remain in place for 1 to 3 days after the operation.
Your doctor may recommend that you wear compression stockings on your legs as well, in order to prevent blood from pooling and clotting. These stockings are tight at the ankle and become looser as they go up the leg.
You’ll have the most discomfort in the first 2 to 3 days following the operation. But within a day or two after surgery, you should be able to sit in a chair, start walking, and begin breathing exercises to help reduce the risk of lung complications. In addition, by day 2, you will be eating solid foods. You’ll also be ready to move out of the ICU. After leaving the ICU, you’ll go to a transitional care unit of the hospital for 3 to 5 days.
CABG is not a cure for CAD, so it is important that you and your doctor discuss a treatment plan that includes lifestyle changes to help you stay healthy. The recommendations may include:
- Not smoking
- Taking medicines that lower “bad” (LDL) cholesterol
- Becoming more active
- Maintaining a healthy weight
- Cutting back on saturated fat (unhealthy fats)
- Adding more vegetables, whole grains, and fruits to your diet
Your doctor and nurses also will give you instructions for recovering at home, especially concerning:
- How to care for your incisions
- How to recognize signs of infection or other complications
- When to call the doctor
- When to make follow-up appointments
Cardiac Rehabilitation
Your doctor may refer you to cardiac rehabilitation (rehab), which is a structured exercise program that can help you increase your physical activity level while under the direct supervision of medical professionals. The program includes work with dieticians, occupational therapists, psychologists, and other health care providers who can help you recover from your surgery and feel confident that you have the skills to adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle. You may begin cardiac rehab while you are still in the hospital and continue it for months after your operation.
Talk to your doctor about whether cardiac rehab might benefit you.
Medications
Your doctor will prescribe medications to manage pain during recovery, lower cholesterol and blood pressure, reduce the risk of blood clots forming, manage diabetes, or treat depression. You should take the medication exactly as prescribed. This is an important part of your care after surgery.
Your discharge from the hospital will depend on how fast you recover and whether you experience any complications, but you should expect your stay to be approximately 7 days.
Recovery at home
For the first 3 to 6 weeks, you’ll probably feel tired often. This is because your body is using a lot of energy to heal itself. Be patient; your fatigue will improve with time. You may find that it is difficult to allow people to help, but delegating some tasks and learning to accept assistance may help you recover faster. Full recovery from CABG may take 12 weeks or more.
It is not uncommon to experience anxiety or depression after heart surgery. If you are feeling especially worried or stressed, reach out to your treatment team, family, and friends. You also may want to consider joining a support group or talking with a professional counselor.
For a patient’s perspective on recovery after heart surgery, read “What Is Recovery from Heart Surgery Really Like? A Patient’s Experience.”
Side effects
You will receive instructions on how to deal with common side effects from surgery, such as:
- Discomfort or itching from healing incisions
- Swelling of the area where an artery or vein was removed for grafting
- Muscle pain or tightness in the shoulders and upper back
- Fatigue (tiredness), mood swings, or depression
- Problems sleeping or loss of appetite
- Constipation
- Chest pain around the site of the chest bone incision
Side effects often go away within 4 to 6 weeks.
Most wound infections develop within 14 days of the surgery. If you develop any of the following signs or symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately:
- Fever greater than 100.4° F
- New or worsened pain in the chest or around the incision
- A rapid heart rate
- Reddened skin, bleeding or pus-like drainage from the incision
Physical activity
Your doctor will advise you when you can start physical activity again. It varies from person to person, but after 6 weeks, most people can resume driving and return to work (unless your job involves demanding physical activity).
It’s also important that you don’t simply sit in bed or on the couch all day once you leave the hospital. Even if you’re only able to walk for a few minutes at a time, getting up and doing so regularly can help your recovery. As you grow stronger, try to walk for longer periods of time, but be careful not to wear yourself out. Even normal, everyday activities may be tiring for you, so make sure to stop and sit down if you start feeling overwhelmed. Try to move for at least 30 minutes a day.
Ongoing Care
Care after surgery will include periodic checkups with your doctors. Your first appointment after surgery likely will be within 4 weeks of your operation. During the visit, tests such as an EKG, stress testing, and echo may be done to see how your heart is working.
For more information, read “What to Expect After Heart Surgery.”
Read more about Coronary Artery Disease.
Reviewed by: Lauren G. Kane, MD
May 2019
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