Who needs bypass surgery?
Your cardiologist and cardiac surgeon decide between bypass surgery, angioplasty or medicines based on your angiogram. Bypass surgery is usually advised for:
- Blockages in several coronary arteries (multi-vessel disease)
- Blockage of the left main coronary artery
- Diabetes with blockages in more than one artery
- Blockages that are too long or too calcified for stents
- Repeated narrowing after angioplasty
- Bypass combined with heart valve surgery
Types of bypass surgery
- On-pump CABG: a heart-lung machine takes over while the surgeon works on a still heart.
- Off-pump (beating-heart) CABG: surgery on the beating heart without the heart-lung machine, chosen for selected patients.
- Arterial grafts: using arteries from the chest wall or arm, which tend to last longer than vein grafts.
- Minimally invasive CABG: through a small cut between the ribs, for selected single-vessel cases.
Reports to send before you travel
The angiogram is the most important report for planning bypass surgery.
- Coronary angiogram report, and the angiogram video CD or link if possible
- Echocardiogram (echo) report
- Recent ECG
- Blood tests: blood count, blood sugar and HbA1c, kidney function
- A list of all your medicines, especially blood thinners
- Any previous heart procedure reports
How the surgery is done
After tests in Chennai, the surgery is done under general anaesthesia. The surgeon takes healthy blood vessels, usually an artery from inside the chest wall and veins from the leg or an artery from the arm, and connects them beyond the blockages. Most operations take 3 to 6 hours depending on the number of grafts.
Recovery and your stay in Chennai
You spend 1 to 3 days in the intensive care unit, then move to a ward where you start walking and breathing exercises. Most patients leave hospital 6 to 8 days after surgery.
We recommend staying near the hospital for a further 2 to 3 weeks for wound checks and cardiac rehabilitation, so your total stay in India is about 3 to 4 weeks. The breastbone takes 6 to 8 weeks to heal, and most people return to normal activity within 6 to 12 weeks.
What affects the cost of bypass surgery in India
- Number of grafts and type of surgery
- Whether valve surgery is also needed
- Days in intensive care and in hospital
- Other conditions such as diabetes, kidney or lung disease
- The hospital and room category
Send your angiogram and echo for a free doctor review and written cost estimate.
Frequently asked questions
Should I have bypass surgery or angioplasty?
It depends on how many arteries are blocked, where the blockages are, and whether you have diabetes. After reviewing your angiogram, the heart team recommends the option that gives you the best long-term result.
I have not had an angiogram yet. Can it be done in Chennai?
Yes. The angiogram can be done in Chennai on arrival, and treatment is planned from the results. Your plan will include this step.
When can I fly home after bypass surgery?
Usually 3 to 4 weeks after surgery, once your cardiac surgeon confirms you are stable and the wounds are healing well.
This page gives general information to help you plan. It is not a diagnosis or a substitute for advice from a doctor who has examined you. Your treating specialist in Chennai will confirm the right treatment for you.