Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) creates a new pathway around the blocked part of your coronary artery, allowing blood to reach that area of your heart muscle again. This pathway is made with veins taken from your legs or with a mammary artery from inside your chest.
The surgeon will make an incision down the middle of your chest and your breast bone will be separated so that the surgeon can get to your heart. Another surgeon will be operating on your leg, removing the vein that will be needed for the graft(s).
When the surgeon begins the bypass grafting, your heart must be stilled. During this time, you are put on a heart-lung machine that will circulate your blood. When the surgery is done, this machine will be removed, and your heart and lungs will take over their functions.
You will need to have lab work (blood and possibly urine) tests, an ECG, and a chest x-ray done prior to surgery. You will also be instructed to take a shower with Hibiclins, a special antibacterial soap, on the morning before surgery.
You will be visited before surgery by a variety of hospital staff to teach you what you need to know.
An Intensive Care Unit (ICU) nurse will talk to you and your family about what to expect during your ICU stay. Some one from Respiratory Therapy will review breathing exercises and what to expect from the mechanical ventilator. You will also receive visits from Cardiac Rehabilitation, pastoral care, and a cardiovascular discharge planner. Your anesthesiologist will talk to you before surgery.
You will be instructed as to which of your medications to take, or if you need to take extra medication before surgery. Aspirin or aspirin containing products should not be taken without talking to your doctor and your surgeon.
Your surgery will take approximately 4-6 hours, but this varies from patient to patient. Your family will be waiting in the surgical waiting room on the first floor during your surgery. Someone from the Operating Room staff will come out periodically during surgery to let you know how you are doing. After the surgery is completely done and you are in your ICU room, the surgeon will also come and speak with your family.
When you are taken to ICU, your family will wait in the 2 West waiting area, and may visit you after the ICU nurses get you settled. These first visits will be short (approximately 10 minutes), as you will not yet be awake, and the nurses will be busy with your IV’s and monitoring lines.
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