Heart bypass surgery, also referred to as coronary artery bypass graft surgery, is one of the open-heart surgeries done to restore the oxygen-rich flow of blood to the blood-deprived portions of the heart, specifically the myocardium/heart muscle. Bypass surgery in Delhi is mostly recommended for men (and even women also) and those aged around 65 years, as they are more likely to have arteriosclerosis, ischemia, and a heart attack.

The operation involves the re-routing of blood flow to the cardiac muscles for their effective functioning. To detour the blood supply, a cardiothoracic surgeon first makes a chest incision and splits, spreads, and lifts the breastbone/ rib cage to gain access to the heart. Next, the surgeon places a blood vessel harvested from the leg, arm, or chest of the patient around the blockage in the existing coronary artery.

The surgeon stitches the upper end of the blood vessel to the aorta and the lower end to the area past the blockage of the blocked artery. After the bypass graft is secure in place, the surgeon restarts the heart and sees if blood flow is restored to normal. If the heart is normally functioning, the surgeon sutures the incisions.   

Here are the main purposes for which a heart bypass surgery is performed:

• Treatment of severe coronary artery disease- The surgery is done to treat single or multiple blockages in the left main coronary artery or severe narrowing of the coronary arteries because of fatty, wax-like (plaque) build-up on the arterial wall. It helps treat ischemia- the insufficient blood flow to the heart’s muscle cells and their potential death, by improving/restoring the blood supply to the heart.

• Relief from severe angina pectoris- The surgery is recommended to alleviate pain in the chest caused by interrupted blood flow to the heart, the silent myocardial ischemia. It is the last resort, when medications or other treatments like angioplasty or stenting are not helping.

• Emergency treatment for heart attack- For some patients having a heart attack, if other prompt medical treatments are not working, a heart bypass surgery may be performed on an urgent basis to save the patient's life.

If you or your loved ones face any type of cardiac emergency, trust Dr. Sujay Shad, Heart Surgery Specialist in Delhi, for urgent bypass surgery. Get timely and best care to protect your heart and life.