What is the technique of coronary artery bypass ?

The heart is a muscular organ whose contraction (beat) impels the blood to reach the rest of the organs and these can nourish themselves and function correctly. The blood that nourishes the heart comes through three channels, the coronary arteries. When a coronary stenosis occurs, these ducts narrow and are not able to give the heart sufficient blood flow.

The technique of the aortocoronary bypass consists in connecting to the heart other ducts (arteries or veins of the patient) that provide all the blood it needs to contract with sufficient force.

This type of surgery is indicated when the coronary stenosis exceeds 70% and causes symptoms in the patient (angina). However, sometimes, if the disease affects only one or two coronary arteries, the possibility of implanting stents can give excellent results and avoid surgery.

Steps of surgery

Aortocoronary bypass surgery is a standard and standardized procedure. First the grafts that are going to be used as conduits are extracted and then the connections to the heart are made .

This last part of the procedure can be done with or without extracorporeal circulation (heart-lung machine). This will depend on the type of case and the experience of the surgeon with one or another technique.

Forecast

The realization of a surgery of these characteristics has, today, a very low risk and generally below 1-2%. In fact, the risk will depend, more than the surgical technique, on other considerations such as age, previous renal or vascular pathology or the "fragility" of the patient.

The postoperative period is usually well tolerated, staying admitted for approximately 6-8 days.. The total recovery usually takes about two months, although it will also depend on the previous conditions of the patient.