Chances of having a heart attack after bypass surgery and their risk factors

In by-pass surgery, they use grafting to clear the blocks. In this method, healthy artery or vein from other parts of the body is connected, or grafted, to the blocked coronary artery. This grafted artery or vein bypasses the blocked portion of the coronary artery. This creates a new path for blood to flow to the heart muscle.  Bypass surgery is an open heart surgery, and there are risk factors like blocks in graft and chances of having a heart attack after bypass surgery is done.

 

Internal memory artery of the heart, saphenous veins of the legs and radial arteries of the arms are normally used as a graft. Unlike angioplasty.  Grafts are new blood vessels used for bypassing the blocks in the heart.

If any of the arteries in the heart get blocked bypass surgery is an option cardiologist will suggest. And the grafts used for bypassing the blocked arteries may lead to the risk of second heart attack after bypass surgery.

Risk of blockage after bypass surgery

Blood clotting inside the grafts is a major risk factor after bypass surgery. It will increase your chances of having another stroke, heart attack and sometimes lung problems. Thus, Bypass undergone patients are strictly recommended to have the prescribed medicines for preventing blood clotting.

Even though grafting bypasses the blocked blood vessels, blood won’t flow as easy through these grafts when compared to the blood flow through normal arteries or veins, blood flow would be in a slow phase. To make the blood flow easier as far as possible antiplatelet medicines are given to the patient. They are very effective in enhancing arterial circulation. If the patient failed to have these tablets on regular basis, then possibilities are these grafts may get blocked in near future.

Sometimes we can’t take the arteries for the purpose of grafting. Instead, veins are taken. Normally blood flow through veins would be slow. In such cases failing to have medicines on regular basis will lead to higher risks of forming blocks in the grafts.

• Also read Risks of living with a stent in your heart

Chances of having a heart attack after bypass surgery

The chances of having a heart attack after bypass surgery are not different from the above-described risks of having blocks in the graft.

Blocks in the graft can lead to heart attacks. And if proper precautions are not taken there are high chances for leading death after bypass surgery

There are cases where more than one grafts are used for bypassing the blocks. In the case using multiple grafts, the patient won’t be knowing if any of these grafts are blocked or not. Since if one graft gets blocked the blood flow will be adjusted through the other one.

And when a stage reaches where both the grafts get blocked, another surgery might be needed to clear those.

Other risk factors

Like any other surgery, coronary artery bypass surgery also has risk factors. Some of those includes:

• Blood clotting
• Over bleeding (if had a wound)
• Infection
• Abnormal heart beating (arrhythmias)
• Pneumonia
• Breathing problems
• Fever and body pain
• Kidney problems (sometimes may cause kidney failure)
• Memory loss and inability to think

These risk won’t be same for all, many things effect these risks like your age, number of bypasses undergone, and any other previous medical conditions. All these risk factors and precautions to tackle these issue will be addressed by your cardio surgeon prior to the surgery.

Precautions after bypass surgery

Regular consumption of medicines, controlled diet and exercise are the most prominent precautions after bypass surgery. Taking this serious can avoid a majority of the risks.

Not all exercises should be done by heart patient, Only do those exercises which you cardio surgeon advice you to do. Exercises meant for heart patients may vary according to their health conditions.

These are certain peoples who are lazy to follow these precautionary measures. They might be thinking there is the possibility of a second surgery if anything goes wrong. Even though a second surgery is possible, We shouldn’t forget the risks for our lives by performing repeated surgery on the same heart.

In addition, our diet plays a major role in the health of our heart. What we eat is what we be. We know accumulation of cholesterol or plaque in the blood vessels is the root cause of heart block. Where doest it come from?

Where doest it come from? No doubt, From the food we eat.

So, Limit consuming food containing high fat. Instead, have cereals, green leafy, fresh fruits, and vegetables.

Always keep in mind, “eat healthy, live healthy”

Implementing the above-said precautions in the life routine can reduce the chances of having a heart attack after bypass surgery. Don’t forget the famous quote Precautions are better than cure.