Coronary artery disease is a common heart disease caused by plaque buildup in the arteries supplying blood to the heart. These arteries narrow and block the blood flow to the muscle of the heart. Heart, chest pain, and shortness of breath are some symptoms. A total blockage triggers a heart attack. Chronic lack of blood flow weakens the heart muscle and leads to failure.

Coronary artery bypass grafting surgery or CABG can treat coronary artery disease by restoring normal blood flow to the heart. The surgeon opens your chest along the sternum. They take the grafts from your arms, legs, or chest and attach them above and below the blockage in a coronary artery.

When is it necessary?

The bypass surgery treats the artery disease signs arising from the buildup of plaque. When a blockage in the left main coronary artery prevents blood from passing in the left ventricle, you require surgery. Other signs include severe chest pain due to blockage of several arteries supplying blood and disease inside your coronary arteries compromising the left ventricle’s work.

The difference

There are two forms of heart valve replacement surgeries, i.e., on-pump and off-pump. In on-pump surgery, the surgeons use a heart-lung machine to stop your heart and efficiently perform the operation. The device circulates the blood and helps your body breathe. In off-pump surgery, your heart beats throughout the process; also called beating heart surgery. It does not require a heart-lung machine.

Preparing for the surgery

Your healthcare provider clarifies the process and allows you to ask questions. You sign an approval form for the surgery, which you need to read carefully. You undergo a complete physical examination with a medical history to ensure otherwise good health before surgery. Blood and medical tests are appropriate.

You need to fast for eight hours on the night before the surgery. Discuss pregnancy, medications, and allergies with your healthcare professional. Inform your healthcare practitioner if you have a history of bleeding disorders or are taking anticoagulant medicine, aspirin, or other drugs that affect blood clotting. Before surgery, the doctor advises you to quit any of them.

Surgical alternatives

When you suffer from a heart attack, you undergo valve replacement surgeries to ensure the valve does not close entirely, causing the blood to flow backwards. When the valve opening becomes narrow, it limits blood flow out of the heart’s chambers. It triggers the heart to pump blood with an additional force for flowing through the narrowed stenotic valve.

Surgical alternatives include mechanical valve, tissue valve, Ross procedure, and TAVI or TAVR procedure. The automatic valve is long-lasting. Under Ross procedure, you borrow your healthy valve and move it into the damaged aortic valve’s position. Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation or Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement involves inserting a new valve without removing the damaged one.

Conclusion

The procedure depends on the valve needing replacement, the severity of symptoms, and surgery. Alternate options are available as per the doctor’s guidance. Consult them for advice and tips before surgery for swift and careful recovery.