A Question about Open Heart Bypass surgery?

One of my very close relative is undergoing "Open Heart Bypass surgery" next week... I am very worried about that... can anyone please tell me how many risks are involved in this operation... and is this surgery very difficult to perform... and so on... Doctors told alot of things about it but i want to hear them from someone who have an experience with this kind of surgery in his/her close freinds or relatives....

and atlast i would like to ask all the readers to please pray for my aunt...

i will definately pray for your aunt and i'm here to tell you she has a long road ahead of her because i had open heart surgery because i had two vavles that were leaking blood all through my body causing it to shut down little by little. I didn't know what was happening i put on 60 pounds in three weeks! They did open heart surgery on me after i was in the hospital for a whole month to get rid of the fluid first before surgery. And i hate to tell u that i really feel for her and like i said i will definately pray, she really needs everyones prayers. when i woke up a little enough to know that i was aware i asked whoever it was that was leaning over talking to me my question was "am i gonna live" and when they told me i was i went back out and when i finally woke up and asked how long i had been asleep they said a day and a half well that blew my mind. I was in intensive care from Friday until the following Wednesday and then i was in a regular room i think for 4 days i think i am trying to forget about it to be honest with u. The main thing is it made me change my life around i was drinking a fifth of liqour a day and smoking three packs of cigs a day and when i left the hospital i was smoke and liqour free and haven't touched any of them yet and i rededicated my life to Christ and here i am talking to u today!! It's a bad experirance but she will probably be fine. I am 47 and i don't know how old she is but God be with her!!!

A year ago last February 23 I had a quadruple by-pass. My brother and father said I looked like hell immediately after the surgery, but I was out. When I woke up Friday am, I hurt, but I was walking around Friday and went to dialysis on Saturday am. You have to go into it realizing that no matter how much it hurts, the alternative is worse.

I could barely walk to my bathroom in the hospital without help. Now I can walk a mile, can walk up and down stairs and don't have to have help going to the bathroom.

the best person to discuss the risks of this surgery as you know is with the physician performing the surgery. i used to be a post cardiac surgical nurse and can tell you from my end it is a very common surgery and many improvements have been made. patients are out of bed usually the first day and do very well. as with any surgery, major, minor or otherwise, there are risks. this is a major operation. but cardiac surgeons are very good at what they do and you have to put your trust in them and your aunt has to feel comfortable with him or her. if she has any doubts then i would be concerned. the post op phase of this surgery is usually predictable and something to prepare for. there can be some depression, loss of appetite and changes that you may not expect. remember the persons heart has been operated on and they may feel fragile and require a lot of emotional support. it sounds like you care for her very much so she has that from you. good luck and she will be in my prayers.

My uncle has triple bypass surgery so I can understand how worried you are. Just remember that this tpyoe of surgery has been preformed for more than 30 years and cardiovascular surgeons have received EXTENSIVE training in bypass techniques.

Possible risks can be:
Heart attack, which occurs in 5% of these surgeries
Stroke, which occurs in 5% of these surgeries (the risk is greatest in those over 70)
Blood clots
Death, which occurs in 1 - 2% of those who have the surgery (that means 95 - 98% have no serious complications)
Sternal wound infection, which occurs in 1 - 4% of these surgeries (this complication is most often associated with obesity, diabetes, or having had previous CABG)

LOOK at how small of percentages there are.


If you would like to read more about what is going to go on during her surgery or what to expect after her surgery go to the site I have provided for you below.

I will be prayin for her- I know she will be fine! :)

I certainly will say a prayer for your Aunt.

The surgery should be performed by a doctor who does many bypass surgeries. I have a message board on which several folks have had bypass...the url is:

http://www.heart-help.net

Lee

I posted this answer in another question, and I thought it may be helpful to you as well.

I don't have anything more to add about the risks of this procedure. But a few words of advise. My mother had a triple bypass 2 years ago in Florida. I had a terrible experience with the hospital.

Make sure your relative gets some pre-op teaching by a RN. No one did this for my mother. Fortunately, I work in an ICU and frequently do this pre op teaching protocol. I did this with my mother. She told me after surgery, that even with the knowledge of post op treatments she was scared as hell. {even with me at her side, constantly explaining what they were doing}. She said it would be horrible not knowing what was going on.

Open heart surgery has become routine, but the first 1-2 post op days can be daunting to the patient. Pre-op teaching can help if the patient knows what to expect. Good luck.