Frequently Asked Questions:

What is Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery(CABG)?

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG) of the heart is performed to re-route the blood supply due to the blockage of blood vessels of the heart called coronary arteries. This procedure involves a healthy blood vessel taken from arm or leg or chest and connecting it beyond the blocked arteries of the heart. This bypass heart surgery will not cure the heart disease but it can save the patient from the symptoms of the blocked blood vessel and increases the life expectancy. 

What are the indications of Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery(CABG)?

Indications of Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG) are the following:

1. Blockage of arteries (Coronary artery disease)
2. Decreased blood flow to the heart (Ischemia)
3. Formation of plaque around the walls of arteries (Atherosclerosis)
4. Pain in the chest (Angina)
5. Shortness of breath, etc

What can be the advantages of Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery(CABG)?

Advantages of Coronary Artery Bypass surgery are decreasing the risk of recurrence of a heart attack, symptoms of Coronary artery disease, etc. 

What is the preparation for Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery(CABG)?

1. Discuss all the risks, complications, and benefits associated with the Bypass surgery with the doctor.
2. The patient should inform past and present medical and medications history to the doctor.
3. The patient should have some imaging tests to check the condition of the blockages.
4. The patient may be advised to stop eating or drinking before 6 hours of the procedure.
5. Before undergoing this surgery, the patient will be asked to sign a consent form.

What is the stepwise procedure for performing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery(CABG)?

Coronary Artery Bypass surgery involves the following steps:

1. General anesthesia will be given to avoid pain during the surgery.
2. An incision in the middle of the chest, a cardiopulmonary bypass machine is connected to you to circulate the oxygenated blood throughout the body during the surgery. 
3. The body temperature is lowered using a cooling technique to reduce the amount of oxygen needed by your heart. This helps in suspending the body's processes and making the heart surgery possible. It also helps in reducing the risk of heart or brain damage due to lack of oxygen.
4. A healthy blood vessel from the chest wall/arm/leg is removed by the surgeon and placed near the blocked or damaged artery. This removed blood vessel is called graft and is attached to the blocked or damaged blood vessel.
5. After completion of the process, the surgeon will remove the heart-lung machine and the function of the bypass is monitored. Once the bypass starts functioning, the incision will be closed with the sutures and bandage and shifted to ICU.

What is the post-procedure care taken for patients after Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery(CABG)?

1. After the completion of the procedure, the patient will be shifted to intensive care until he/she gains consciousness from the sedation.
2. Use medicines strictly as directed by the doctor.
3. Consult the doctor if pain or bleeding is seen at the surgical site. 
4. There should be follow-up visits to your doctor once in a while to monitor your health condition.

What is the price of Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG) in Chennai?

1. Heart surgeon 
2. A cardiologist who is well experienced in Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery.

How is the price of Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery(CABG) in Chennai?

Expenses for Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery in Chennai changes due to the following factors:

1. The medical condition of the patient
2. Type of grafts used
3. Admission fee
4. Any other lab tests or examination tests such as X-ray, ECG, etc.
5. Doctor fee
6. Post-surgical complications that are involved
7. Age of the patient
8. Admission room that you opted for

Minimum amount to be paid for Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery(CABG) in Chennai starts from Rs.1,50,000

Average charges for Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery(CABG) in Chennai is approximately Rs.2,50,000

Maximum cost for Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery(CABG) in Chennai rises up to Rs.6,00,000.

Is Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery(CABG) major or minor surgery?

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery is a major surgery.

What is the eligibility criteria for Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery(CABG)? 

People with the following conditions can choose Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery(CABG):

1. People suffering from severe atherosclerosis [the blockage of blood vessels].
2. People who are suffering from angina.
3. Individuals who are at risk of developing heart disease.
4. Individuals with severe chest pain during rest or stress.

What is the ineligibility criteria for Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery(CABG)?

People with the following conditions cannot choose Coronary Artery Bypass surgery:

1. Severe kidney disease.
2. Patients who are currently on medications such as blood thinners and antiplatelets.

What are the risks and complications of Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery(CABG)?

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery has the following risks and complications:

1. Bleeding, Infections, pericarditis, etc.
2. Loss of memory or difficulty to take decisions (this may be improved within 6 to 12 months after the surgery)
3. Kidney problems
4. Stroke
5. Heart attack (sometimes the blood clot breaks after the surgery), etc.

What much time does it take to complete Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery(CABG)?

The surgery takes 3 to 6 hours to complete.

What is the recovery time from Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery(CABG)?

The patient may take around 6 to 12 weeks to recover from Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery(CABG) and often depends on the health condition of the patient. 

What is the success rate of Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery(CABG)?

A few factors may determine the success rate of Coronary Artery Bypass surgery and they are:

1. Experience of the surgeon 
2. Type of surgery performed
3. Patient age 
4. Health condition of the patient 

However, the success rate of Coronary Artery Bypass surgery is 95%. 

Does Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery(CABG) hurt the patient?

You won't be experiencing pain during this process because you will be under general anesthesia. There may be some discomfort after the procedure. 

Is Coronary Artery Bypass(CABG) a Permanent Surgery?

Coronary Artery Bypass surgery is permanent. 

What are the long-term effects of Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery(CABG)?

The following are the long-term effects of Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery:

1. Improvement in the symptoms of heart diseases
2. Medium to long-term survival is achieved
3. Left ventricular ejection fraction is improved

Is it possible to detect Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery(CABG) in the future?

Coronary Bypass surgery can be detected in the future with the help of screening or imaging tests. 

What are the alternatives for Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery(CABG)?

Alternatives for Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery are:

1. Medical therapy
2. Balloon angioplasty
3. Enhanced external counterpulsation
4. Diet and lifestyle modifications