Coronary bypass surgery

What is it?

It’s surgery used to treat coronary heart disease. It diverts blood around narrowed or clogged parts of the major arteries to improve blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart. Around 20,000 of these procedures are carried out in England every year of which 80% are on men.

Why they’re carried out

The heart is supplied with blood by the two large blood vessels, the left and right coronary arteries. Over time, these can become narrowed and hardened by the build-up of fatty deposits called plaques. Your chances of developing coronary heart disease increase with age. You’re also much more likely to be affected if you smoke, you’re overweight or obese and you have a high-fat diet.

The procedure

The surgery involves taking a blood vessel, usually a vein, from another part of the body – like the chest or arm – and attaching it to the coronary artery above and below the narrowed area or blockage. This new blood vessel is known as a graft. The op is carried out under general anaesthetic. It usually takes between three and six hours.

Recovery

Most people will need to stay in hospital for at least seven days after the operation. You should be able to sit in a chair after one day, walk after three days and walk up and down stairs after five or six days. When you go home, you’ll need to take things easy for a few weeks. You should be able to return to most normal activities after about six weeks, including working, driving, and having sex. Most people make a full recovery within 12 weeks.