Coronary bypass surgery

With coronary artery bypass surgery, the surgeon takes a vein from some part of the patient such as the leg. The tissue is then inserted into the aortas as it leaves the heart and the other end of the vein is joined to the coronary artery below the blockage.

Blood then flows from the aorta through the vein graft beyond the blockage to the coronary artery and to the heart muscle.

Sometimes, coronary bypass surgery needs to be repeated after about 10 years or so because the arteries become blocked again.

It is an open heart surgery in which the cardiovascular surgeon cuts through the sternum (breastbone) and exposes the heart.

The success of the surgery depends on the location and the amount of coronary artery disease, the time over which it has occurred and the blood vessels used for bypass.
Coronary bypass surgery

Cardiovascular heart disease

Cardiovascular diseases actually comprise a host of disorders that may involve numerous structures within the heart.

Cardiovascular diseases can affect any or all the parts of the heart as a sequence impair the function of the heart.

The WHO defines coronary heart disease as an acute or chronically impaired performance of the heart caused by a reduction or complete interruption of myocardial blood supply resulting from arthrosclerosis of the cardiac arteries.

Healthy living constitutes an integral part of preventing coronary heart disease. It lowers the risk of coronary heart disease both in free-living, high risk patients and in cardiac patients.

While the evidence clearly shows that modifying one’s lifestyle is often beneficial, most people find it difficult to discard lifelong habits and to adopt and maintain unfamiliar practices.

Rick factors in include inappropriate diet, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, sedentary lifestyle and family history.

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death, premature death and disability in Australia and New Zealand. In 2002, more than 26,000 people died of coronary heart disease in Australia and more than 5000 in New Zealand.
Cardiovascular heart disease