Are you scared about Triple Bypass Surgery? Let's talk about it simply.

Even when you hear about heart surgery, that is, bypass surgery, you feel a little scared and nervous, don't you? Especially when the doctor says that you need to do a "triple bypass." But when you clearly understand what exactly this is, why it needs to be done, and what life will be like after this, that fear in your heart will largely disappear. Today, we will talk about this very simply, in a way that you can understand, as if you were talking to a friend.

Simply put, what is triple bypass surgery?

Imagine that the main water pipe to your house is clogged with dirt in three places, and the water supply is very blocked. What do we do then? If we can't remove those blocked places, we can build a new line by inserting new pieces of pipe to bypass those places, right? That's what this surgery does.

The blood vessels that supply blood to our heart (we call these coronary arteries) become clogged with fat and cholesterol. In medicine, we call this plaque. This plaque blocks the blood flow. In a "triple bypass," the blood vessels are blocked in three major places .

So what the surgeon does is take a healthy blood vessel from somewhere else in your body (often from your leg, arm, or inside your chest) and create a "new path" around the blocked area. It's like a bypass. This allows the heart muscle to get the blood it needs again. This surgery is also called a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft, or CABG.

Who would want to have this surgery?

This surgery is not done for everyone. A doctor recommends it for certain reasons. Mainly, it is necessary for people who have coronary artery disease.

• If you have more than 50% blockage in the main left artery that supplies blood to your heart.
• If there is more than 70% blockage in the other branch arteries.
• If the blockage in the blood vessel is severe and complex enough that a minimally invasive procedure like angioplasty (this is what we usually call "stent placement") cannot be performed.
• If you have frequent chest pain (angina), difficulty breathing , or are at high risk of having a heart attack due to these blockages.

In cases like this, the best option to prevent further damage to the heart is bypass surgery.

What happens before the surgery?

After deciding on the day for surgery, the doctor will perform several tests to accurately assess your condition. Don't worry about these, they are done to make the surgery as safe and successful as possible.

Your doctor will advise you to temporarily stop taking certain medications (especially blood thinners) a few days before surgery. He will also tell you to stop eating and drinking from midnight the day before surgery.

What happens during the surgery?

The surgery will begin after you are given general anesthesia (`(General Anesthesia)`) and put to sleep. So you will not feel any pain. The surgery can take between 3 and 6 hours.

This is usually done as open-heart surgery.

1. Making the incision: The surgeon will make a vertical incision about 6 inches down the middle of your chest.

2. Reaching the heart: The breastbone (breastbone) in the middle of the chest is then carefully divided into two to reach the heart. After the surgery, this bone is reattached with special wires, and after a while it heals well again.

3. Taking the new blood vessel: Next, the blood vessel needed to create the new pathway will be taken from your leg, arm, or the inside of your chest.

4. Creating a new path: Finally, one end of the blood vessel is attached to the main artery that carries blood out of the heart, the aorta, and the other end is attached to the blocked area below. In a "triple bypass," three new paths are created.

Sometimes, very select patients can undergo surgery using small incisions. However, it is not suitable for everyone, and your doctor will decide what method is best for you.

How is the recovery time after surgery?

After the surgery, you will be transferred to the intensive care unit (ICU). You will usually stay there overnight. During this time, you will have a tube in your mouth to help you breathe, but this will be removed after a few hours. Your heart rate and blood pressure will be continuously monitored by machines.

• Hospital stay: After the intensive care unit, you will be transferred to a general ward. You will stay in the hospital for another 3 to 5 days.
• After going home: It can take about 6 weeks to fully recover. Some people may take a little longer or less.
• Walking: While you're in the hospital, you'll be asked to get out of bed and walk around a bit after a day or two. This will help you recover faster.
• Driving: You should avoid driving for 6 weeks, as it takes time for the sternum to heal.
• Heavy lifting: Also, it is not advisable to lift anything heavier than 4-5 kilos (for example, a large water bottle, a small gas cylinder) during this time.
• Cardiac Rehab: After you go home, your doctor will likely recommend a special exercise and counseling program to help strengthen your heart. It is very important to participate in it.

What are the benefits and risks of this surgery?

Like any major surgery, this one has its benefits as well as some minor risks.

Advantages

• It prevents damage to the heart by restoring blood flow to the heart muscle.
• Symptoms such as frequent chest pain and shortness of breath are significantly reduced.
• Your quality of life will improve greatly. You will be able to work and walk without fatigue.
• For patients with severe obstruction, it increases the chance of living longer than other treatments.

Risks

First of all, more than 95% of people who have bypass surgery do not experience serious complications. This is a procedure that has been performed successfully around the world for decades. However, some patients (especially those with other medical conditions or those undergoing emergency surgery) may have some risks.

• Impaired kidney function
• Stroke
• Blood clots
• Re-occlusion of the used blood vessel
• Infections in the incision site
• Heartbeat irregularities (Atrial Fibrillation)

Typically, the risk of death from a planned triple bypass surgery is less than 1%. Your medical team will do everything they can to minimize these risks.

When do you need to see the doctor after you go home?

You need to take great care of your body during your recovery after you go home. It's important to be vigilant if you develop any signs of infection.

Also, be sure to go to all the follow-up appointments your doctor tells you to come to after the surgery. It's very important to see if you're healing properly and if the medication is working properly.

Life after surgery...

A question that many people ask is, "How long can you live after bypass surgery?" There is a good answer to this. Even 10 years after bypass surgery, more than 75% of patients are still alive and well.

• Complete cessation of smoking and tobacco use.
• Eating a healthy diet, low in oil and sugar, and high in vegetables and fruits.
• Exercise regularly as per the doctor's instructions.
• Taking prescribed medications (cholesterol, high blood pressure, blood thinners) on time.
• Controlling stress.

If you do these things correctly, you can live a healthy, active life long after surgery.