Everything You Need to Know About Heart Bypass Surgery

If you sit back and take a moment to think if anyone in your family or friends has experienced any illness related to the heart, you will definitely find one. This is how prevalent heart diseases have become in India over the years. There is a line of treatments that cure heart diseases and help patients get a new life, but everything comes with a hefty cost. While there are advanced medical treatments available such as bypass surgery, there is also a significant strain on your finances that comes with it. To combat heart conditions and financial burden, you can get health insurance that covers heart ailments and saves you from shelling out your savings.

This article highlights important information about bypass surgery, including its risk, procedure and cost in India. 

What is Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery?

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), also termed heart bypass surgery, is a surgical procedure that helps restore blood flow to your heart. Heart attacks and heart attack-like symptoms occur when artery blockages cut off blood flow.

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery is performed to restore blood flow by placing blood vessels from other parts of your body to create a diversion where there are blockages.

Variations of Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Heart bypass surgery has almost the same medical techniques; however, there are exceptions when different methods are followed depending on the patient's needs. The variations of this surgery are-

Off-pump Surgery

In this variation, your doctor doesn't use a heart-lung bypass machine. This means your heart will not stop working during the procedure, and your doctor will perform the surgery while your heart is beating. This surgery can't be performed on every patient as it is more challenging, for it needs well-trained and experienced doctors to make this a success.

Minimally Invasive Surgery

As the name suggests, your doctor won't use a large incision to split or lift your sternum and rib cage. He would rather use smaller incisions to access your heart through the gaps between the ribs. This procedure may also involve an off-pump technique.

Robot-assisted Surgery

Surgical robots are new-age machines surgeons use to perform heart bypass surgery. Surgeons control the movements of the robot while it performs the surgery. Robotic surgery doesn't make bigger incisions and doesn't open or lift your sternum. It may use a heart-lung bypass or off-pump technique for the surgery.

Hybrid Procedure

This variation involves a combination of CABG with non-CABG techniques. While many patients need open surgery for blocked arteries, a hybrid procedure is performed with the minimal invasive technique by placing stents in affected blood vessels. Stent is a frame-like device inserted into the arteries. It helps to keep the arteries stretched to help the blood flow through them.

How is Heart Bypass Surgery Performed?

Before every surgery, there is always a process to follow. Below are the common steps mentioning how the experts perform heart bypass surgery-

1. Your doctor gives you medications, fluids and anaesthesia through an IV, and once the anaesthesia starts working, you will begin to lose consciousness and go into deep sedation.
2. Your surgeon begins by incising the middle of your chest to spread your rib cage apart to expose your heart. However, this step may vary according to the version your surgeon will perform on you, as it could be a minimally invasive technique too.
3. You will be connected to the cardiopulmonary bypass machine that helps circulate blood through your body while the surgery is performed on your heart. You won't require a cardiopulmonary bypass machine if you are undergoing the off-pump version.
4. After the initial procedure, your surgeon will take off the healthy blood vessel from your leg to bypass the affected or damaged part of your artery. This process is called grafting, where both graft ends are attached above and below the blockage.
5. Finally, after performing every step successfully, your surgeon will monitor the function of your bypass and will finish the surgery by suturing and bandaging the wound. You will eventually be sent to the intensive care unit (ICU) for better observation by the team of doctors.

Risks Involved in Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Every critical surgery carries a risk, and so does heart bypass surgery. Recent technological upgrades have led to massive improvements directly influencing the surgery's success. However, there is always a risk that pose threat. Below mentioned are the potential risks of bypass surgery-

• Bleeding
• Arrhythmia (Irregular Heart Beat)
• Infection
• Kidney Failure
• Blood Clots
• Chest Pain
• Heart Attack or Stroke

Difference Between Open Heart Surgery and Bypass Surgery

Precisely, in open-heart surgery, the patient's chest is cut open to allow access to the heart. After making the necessary incisions, the surgeons have two options for finishing the procedure: off-pump or on-pump. During bypass surgery, the surgeons employ heart-lung machines to stop the heart and perform the procedure effectively. The machine aids both respiration and blood circulation.

How Much Does Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery Cost in India?

The bypass surgery cost varies according to the location and the patient's condition. While India is renowned for its quality medical services, the surgery cost is higher in metropolitan cities compared to tier 2 cities. The CABG surgery's cost may range between 1.5 Lakh- 4.5 Lakh, depending upon various factors.

>> Also Know: Does Your Health Insurance Cover Open Heart Surgery Cost?

Does Care Health Insurance Offer Healthcare Plan for Heart-Related Surgeries?

Care offers the two most promising plans for heart-related surgeries–Care Heart and Heart Mediclaim. Care Heart covers those with pre-existing heart conditions, whereas Heart Mediclaim provides a safety cushion against emergencies related to the heart. There has been a significant surge in the number of cases of heart disease due to unhealthy lifestyle, reckless eating habits, rising stress levels, etc., resulting in lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, obesity, and high BP and ultimately impacting heart health. 

Once you fall prey to such life-threatening diseases, you must be financially secure to combat them. Therefore, buying health insurance for heart Patients is imperative so that finances are readily available during such situations. If you are a heart patient already or fear being one due to your family history or other reasons, buy our best suitable heart care plan today as your safety cushion.

Disclaimer: The above-mentioned information is for reference purposes only. Also, kindly consult a professional medical expert to verify the details of health concerns.