Coronary artery disease can be treated with coronary artery bypass surgery
Statistics in 2015 show that heart disease is the world’s number 1 cause of death and is one of the top causes of death in the Thai population after cancer and accidents. Heart disease is just the name used to refer to a group of diseases and abnormalities of the components of the heart such as the heart valves and heart muscles. Coronary artery disease is most frequently found among the Thai population.
What kind of chest pain is a warning sign of coronary artery disease?
A symptom shown from this disease is radiating chest pain toward the left shoulder and left arm. In some cases, the pain might radiate along the neck, with symptoms being exacerbated by physical exertions before improving following rest. In cases where the coronary arteries have narrowed to the point of obstruction, severe cardiac ischemia can occur, causing myocardial infarction. This can cause intense chest pain, agitation, sweating and chills, and the patient can die if he or she is not taken to a hospital on time.
In some patients, especially patients with a chronic disease, such as diabetes, chest congestion might not occur, but there could be signs of heart failure such as extreme fatigue, and some cases might arrive in hospital while in a state of cardiac arrest.
There are 3 surgical approaches to treat coronary artery disease as follows:
Traditional coronary artery bypass grafting is a major surgery that requires the opening of the thoracic cavity and drugs to stop the beating of the heart and special equipment to ensure that blood can continue to circulate throughout the body without passing through the heart until the operation is completed. This treatment method has been used for over 30 years and has been proven to produce good short-term and long-term outcomes.
Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting is a surgical bypass method that also opens the thoracic cavity like in the first method, but doctors will not use any drug to stop the heart in this method, nor any special equipment to pump blood.
Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass grafting is a surgical method that uses special equipment that allows doctors to not have to open up the thoracic cavity. It is generally preferred in cases where there is blockage in the coronary artery toward the front of the heart. However, this technique is unsuitable for patients who experience obstruction in more than one coronary artery.
Who need to undergo CABG?
1.People who experience a blockage in the coronary artery that cannot be treated by other methods.
2. People who experience severe obstruction of the left main coronary artery.
3. People who experience severe obstruction in multiple coronary arteries, especially patients with diabetes and chronic kidney failure.
4. Some patients need to be treated to prevent acute myocardial infarction, even if they experience no symptoms but show signs of widespread obstruction of the main coronary arteries.
Preparations before Undergoing CABG
Coronary artery bypass grafting is a major surgery, so patients have to prepare their bodies well. Doctors and nurses will help advise patients and help prepare them, but the patients themselves have to strictly follow recommendations. The things to be prepared before undergoing this surgery are very detailed, but they mostly include the following:
- Adjusting your diet and taking medications strictly as instructed by your doctor.
- Discontinuing some activities like smoking and alcohol consumption.
- Resting to prepare the body at the hospital ahead of the day of the surgery.
- Being examined for readiness before the surgery by a heart surgeon and anesthetist.
- Blood tests and blood preparations.
- Discontinuing antiplatelet medications, although this depends on the doctor’s diagnosis, because in some cases stopping your medication can create risk of myocardial infarction before the surgery.
- Valuables, dentures, glasses and other personal belongings should be handed over to close acquaintances or nurses before the surgery.
Post-CABG Care
The patient should rest in the CCU for about 2 days, because just after leaving the operation room, the patient might still have to wear breathing tubes. After the patient experiences good recovery and is able to breathe unassisted, nurses help remove the breathing tubes. Even after the patient is able to breathe well unassisted, the patient will be sent from the CCU to recover at a recovery room equipped with a heart monitor. After the patient is a bit stronger, the patient will be able to walk to the bathroom alone, and a physical therapist will help provide care and rehabilitation. Normally, a patient will recover in the hospital for about 1 week after surgery before returning to rest at home. Afterwards, the patient will need to see the doctor according to appointments for symptom and treatment outcome follow-ups.
You may find our specialist at our Heart Center
Phyathai 2 Hospital
International Correspondence Center
Tel: +66-2617-2444 ext. 2020 or 2047 E mail: onestop@phyathai.com
@pt2_inter
Phyathai 2 Cambodia
PT2Chinese
phyathai2inter
