Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting-CABG - the life saving cardiac procedure

Online, January 26, 2010 (Newswire.com) - CABG or commonly called bypass surgery, one of the most important cardiac procedures, is the procedure of choice in cases of coronary artery blockages. Arteries carry blood from the heart to the rest of the body, and coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscles. When the coronary artery gets blocked, a new channel is created to bypass the blockage, which is called bypass graft surgery. It uses a working blood vessel from another part of the body -- the graft -- to channel blood around the blocked area.

CABG is indicated in cases whereby plaque buildup narrows an artery to about 70% of its normal size and the artery is essentially blocked. A blockage can cause a decrease in the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart and over time can lead to debilitating chest pain or a heart attack.

Less severe blockage can be relieved by angioplasty and stenting. But severe blockage usually requires bypass surgery. Also, if angioplasty proves unsuccessful, or the position of the blockage is too difficult to access by angioplasty, or there are severe blockages in multiple major vessels, coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery is needed.

The procedure is performed by taking a graft from another part of the body and then attaching one end of the graft to the aorta and the other end to the coronary artery below the blockage.

The traditional operation calls for a six- to eight-inch cut down the center of the breastbone so the surgeon can get directly at the heart. During the operation, the body is connected to a heart-lung bypass machine that keeps the blood flowing. The heart is stopped while the doctor operates. Then the surgeon uses special wires to close the chest.
The length of the surgery varies with each patient. However, it generally takes 4-6 hours from the time you enter the operating room.

After surgery, the patient goes to an intensive care unit for a day or two of close monitoring. Then the patient is transferred to the nursing unit for five to six days.

Once a person who has had bypass surgery leaves the hospital, home recovery means progressively increasing activity over the next two to four weeks.

Most patients are fully functional in six to eight weeks, although some people may take longer. But four to six weeks of progressive recuperation at home is needed. The patient is not bed-bound but not leaving home.
Indicure, the premier medical tourism company of India, has served many patients from countries like USA, UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya and other countries, looking for cost effective CABG surgeries in India. The healthcare facilitation company provides the best services at very affordable prices.

For more information about CABG surgery, please visit http://www.indicure.com/cabg.html or write to http://www.indicure.com/contactus_php.php