Heart Bypass Surgery Complications – Part 2

Heart bypass surgery is, as we noted in Part 1 of this article, like rerouting traffic around a rock slide that has blocked a highway. A new route is constructed to let traffic flow around the blockage, and the old route is closed forever.

Heart bypass surgery is currently one of the most common surgeries in the U.S., but potential complications do exist. You should discuss the possible complications with your doctor.

Complications of Heart Bypass Surgery

Remember that the complications are potential, not promised. Many people experience none of them.

* Bleeding: After heart bypass surgery, there is a possibility that you may have excessive bleeding. This could necessitate additional surgery.

* Organ Failure: The surgery can result in failure of one or more organs: kidney, liver, or lungs. The potential for this complication of heart bypass surgery increases if you are already suffering from chronic kidney or lung disease.

* Recurrence: Within the first 2 weeks after heart bypass surgery, 5 to 10 percent of bypass blood vessels become blocked again. Between 2 weeks and 1 years, another 10 percent of bypass vessels have become blocked again.

Most at Risk

Patients over 70 years of age are most at risk for the complications of heart bypass surgery. Women are more at risk than men, possibly because they and their blood vessels are smaller. People who have other health problems such as diabetes and chronic lung or kidney disease also run greater risk of complications from heart bypass surgery.

Benefits

Despite the potential complications of heart bypass surgery, there are benefits to be gained. Heart bypass surgery may improve your quality of life greatly. If you were suffering angina pain, you may find yourself able to return to activities you had given up.

This surgery may increase the number of years you will live. Without it, the blocked arteries could, in many cases, lead to a heart attack in the near future. While the surgery is no guarantee that you will live longer, it may reduce the risk that your death will be hastened by blocked arteries.

Bypass surgery is not a cure, in that it will not stop blood vessels from becoming blocked in the future. It does, however, give you opportunity to prevent or reduce future blockage by lifestyle changes.

CAUTION: This information is for educational purposes only. Your cardiologist (heart doctor) will help you decide whether heart bypass surgery is best for you. Please seek his or her advice.