The human heart is a powerful yet delicate organ and serves the vital function of pumping blood to different organs. However, the incidence of cardiovascular disease is growing at an alarming rate. Did you know that around 24% of all deaths in India can be attributed to cardiovascular diseases? One of the most successful treatment approaches for cardiac health problems is Coronary Artery Bypass Graft surgery.
The demand for heart bypass surgery in India has been increasing consistently due to better success rates. It is a proven surgical treatment method for reducing the risks of heart failure and fatal outcomes of coronary heart disease. Let us find out what you can expect after a heart bypass surgery during your hospital stay.
What is Heart Bypass Surgery?
Heart bypass surgery is the common term for Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting. It involves creating a new path for the flow of blood around a blocked artery in the heart. The procedure for heart bypass surgery in India includes the use of a healthy blood vessel from the leg or chest. Surgeons use the healthy blood vessel underneath the blocked or partially blocked artery. The healthy blood vessel provides a new path for blood to flow into the heart muscles.
However, you must also clear some misconceptions about heart bypass surgery or CABG surgery. First of all, it does not cure heart diseases that result in blockages, such as coronary artery disease or atherosclerosis. On the contrary, heart bypass surgery aims at reducing the risk of death due to heart disease. It is useful for reducing the symptoms of coronary artery disease, such as shortness of breath or chest pain.
What Happens During Hospital Stay for Heart Bypass Surgery?
The heart bypass surgery includes the administration of anaesthetics through IV and face masks. The surgeon makes a long incision along the sternum before they spread the rib cage to find the heart. The next step involves stopping the heart temporarily through medicine alongside using the heart-lung machine.
Patients are administered different drugs during and after the procedure. Considering the complexity of the procedures for heart bypass surgery, patients are likely to wonder about the time required for recovery. Interestingly, the recovery time for patients depends on different factors, such as other health conditions of patients and follow-up treatments.
Most patients would think about the duration of their stay at the hospital after heart bypass surgery. In most cases, hospitals for heart bypass surgery in India are likely to recommend patients stay for at least 7 days. In the first stage of recovery, patients wake from the effects of anaesthetics with the breathing tube still attached.
Doctors remove the breathing tube within 24 hours of the patient waking up. After a CABG surgery, patients are kept in the intensive care unit of the hospital for one to two days. During this time, doctors monitor the patient for a response of their body to the bypass surgery. Patients have to go through the inconvenience of having drips, drains, and tubes stuck in their body cavities after surgery. Patients experience pain and grogginess due to the surgery. Recovery from heart bypass surgery takes some time, and people recover at different speeds.
What Can You Do for Better Recovery after Heart Bypass Surgery?
The complicated procedures in CABG surgery can appear quite overwhelming. On the other hand, you need to look at the positive side of recovering from a heart bypass surgery. Patients can completely recover from the surgery after 12 weeks of the procedure. At the same time, patients should always take note of any unnatural symptoms during the recovery process and consult with their doctors.
The best answer for recovery after heart bypass surgery in India is cardiac rehabilitation. Patients must follow a holistic recovery plan that focuses on medications and wound care after surgery and their diet and mental well-being. Furthermore, patients should also consult with surgeons for effective methods to cope with anxiety and depression after heart bypass surgery.
Are You Prepared for a Healthier Heart with Bypass Surgery?
The journey of recovering from heart bypass surgery might take weeks. Patients would have to stay in the hospital for a week after the operation. During the discharge process from the hospital, surgeons would recommend the ideal plan for follow-up care. The success rate of heart bypass surgery in India at renowned institutions relies on helping patients throughout the treatment experience.
Recovery from a major surgical procedure like Coronary Artery Bypass Graft surgery can take time. However, the assurance of experts at your side can help you overcome your apprehensions about recovering from heart bypass surgery. Find more details about CABG surgery and important requirements for the future.
Also Read: Tips and Support Systems to Maintain Well-Being Post Cardiac Surgery