Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

What happens after surgery?

After your operation, you will be taken to the intensive care unit (ICU) and will be closely monitored for about 24 hours before you go back to your ward. When you wake up you will be connected to machines that record the activity of your heart, lungs and other body systems. These might include a ventilator machine to help you breathe.

You may need pain relief to help with any discomfort as the anaesthetic wears off and you may have a catheter to drain urine from your bladder into a bag. You may also have fine tubes running out from the wound. These drain fluid into another bag and are usually removed after a day or two.

You will be encouraged to get out of bed and move around as this helps prevent chest infections and blood clots in your legs. A physiotherapist will usually visit you every day to guide you through exercises designed to help your recovery. When you are ready to go home, you will need to arrange for someone to drive you home. You should try to have a friend or relative stay with you for the first 24 hours.

Your nurse will give you some advice about caring for your healing wounds before you go home. You may be given a date for a follow-up appointment.

The wires holding your sternum together are permanent. Dissolvable stitches will disappear in seven to 10 days on their own.

What are the possible complications of bypass surgery?

After a CABG you will usually feel some discomfort and have some swelling around the wound areas for a few weeks. You're likely to have permanent scars on your chest and in the area from where your graft is taken. These may fade over time. You may suffer from poor memory and concentration, this usually wears off gradually within six months. The most common problem after surgery is the return of chest pain (angina).

No procedure is ever completely free of risks. However, open heart surgery has been performed for many years with successful results and limited complications.

Your doctors will explain all relevant risks of this procedure to you prior to surgery.

Other risks of bypass surgery may include:

• Risks associated with anaesthesia
• Death
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Excessive bleeding
• Infection
• Subtle problems in long-term memory, comprehension, calculation skills and concentration

What about my long term recovery?

Before you are discharged from hospital you will be invited to join a cardiac rehabilitation programme. These programmes which vary from area to area provide practical help, advice and support to families/whanau who require assistance after hospital discharge.