What is the doctor not going to tell me before heart bypass surgery? Is my doctor too old to perform the surgery?

Similar questions: doctor heart bypass surgery perform.

Look, this is a serious procedure. But, it is tried and true. Don't worry.

Just educate yourself as much as possible. Bypass surgeries have probably contributed to a marked increase in American longevity over the past few decades. I have not been through the procedure (yet), but both of my parents have.

When my father had the operation, the surgeon indicated that the procedure would probably hold for about 15 years. Well, it has been way, way past 15 years. My father isn't doing any Ironman Triathalon competitions.

But, he is alive, enjoying his work, and spending good time with family and friends. I encourage you to educate yourself. Read information from reputable health sites on the Web.

Get your hands on health and medical guides published by medical schools. Talk to individuals who have been through the procedure. If you don't know anyone personally, I guarantee that your hospital may be able to direct you through their social workers to support groups or "zipper clubs" as some are affectionately known.

Most good physicians take the time to explain things to their patients. Some surgeons in my experience are rougher around the edges. Their egos sometimes interfere with their pathos.

But, that is ok. You want the guy to be in tight command of his ship in the OR. You can get your education from your cardiologist.In my experience, we got answers to all of the questions we asked.

I recommend doing some research into your cardiothoracic surgeon and his/her hospital. You can find mortality statistics and other information. You can also get input from your network of doctors.

It will usually be expressed in positives as opposed to negatives, so you need to listen carefully for what is not said. Also, don't get fooled by higher mortality statistics. Some hospitals like to only take easy, cut and dry cases, leaving the more complex and risky cases for others.

Naturally, higher risk procedures will often have a higher mortality rate. Choosing the hospital with the lowest mortality rate for this procedure may mean that they don't have a lot of experience with high risk cases. You definitely want a hospital and surgeon with a lot of experience in your procedure.

Once you are satisfied, place your trust in your physician and don't continually second guess him/her. I provide you with a link to a published ranking. I wouldn't get hung up on the ranking.

It can be directional. It is as accurate as the ranking methodology allows.By the way, this isn't a one-man show. I imagine there is a team.

Your doctor may be the senior surgeon who does the most delicate work. But, I would expect that there are more junior surgeons who will be harvesting blood vessels from your leg and sewing you up afterwards. I think having teams is a good thing.

If they work well together, the product is always better. When it comes right down to it, though. I did not go through the procedure myself.

So, I can't tell you 1st hand what it feels like. But, I was by my parents' sides for each of their procedures and rehabs. I was also by their sides for subsequent angioplasty procedures over the years.

The only surprise I experienced, for which I hadn't been prepared, was seeing what my loved one looked like right after the procedure in the CCU. I think it is worth warning your family that you aren't going to look like photos of you in your 20s. You will probably be quite pale or white colored.

You will have a tube stuck into your throat. When I walked in, it took all my self control not to burst out sobbing. I thought I was seeing a corpse.

But, my parent was very much alive, just under sedation. Within hours, color and "life" returned. We initially communicated by letting him/her write on a pad on his/her chest.

They could hear but, until the breathing tube is removed, talking is out. If your family sets expectations realistically, they won't get emotionally seesawed as much. It can be really trying on the family.

Of course, the patient is the one whose body is being fixed and who is going through the physical dislocation. But, most families go through pretty major emotional upheavals. It is tough on the caregivers.

But, everyone comes out better for the experience in the end. Don't be surprised if you and your family experience strong religious feelings and change your diets to something more heart healthy. If you are eligible for Medicare, be sure you take advantage of it (those of us who are younger won't be able to in the future).

Don't blow off the social workers at the end of your stay. They can help you with rehab, which is always longer than the surgeon says. If you need a rehab facility, they can place you.

If you need assistance in the home--hospital bed, home health aides, housekeepers, etc., they can be of assistance and I believe Medicare picks up a fair bit. Good luck to you and your family. Sources: Personal experience with 2 multiple bypass surgeries on my parents and 3 other cardiac procedures; http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/coronary-bypass-surgery/MY00087 ; http://nypheart.org/ ; http://health.usnews.com/health/best-hospitals/heart-and-heart-surgery-hospital-rankings/ .

Your doctor cannot make any guarantees Coronary bypass surgery has been around a long time and has a good track record. In general, state departments of health regulate whether hospitals may perform heart surgery based on the number of operations they do each year and the qualifications of the surgeons. If your doctor is working in an accredited hospital which is doing heart surgery, chances are all is well.

If you have any doubts, contact your state department of health. Bypass Surgery, Coronary Artery What is coronary artery bypass surgery? This is a type of heart surgery.It's sometimes called CABG ("cabbage").

The surgery reroutes, or "bypasses," blood around clogged arteries to improve blood flow and oxygen to the heart. Why is this surgery done? The arteries that bring blood to the heart muscle (coronary arteries) can become clogged by plaque (a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances).

This can slow or stop blood flow through the heart's blood vessels, leading to chest pain or a heart attack. Increasing blood flow to the heart muscle can relieve chest pain and reduce the risk of heart attack. How is coronary bypass done?

Surgeons take a segment of a healthy blood vessel from another part of the body and make a detour around the blocked part of the coronary artery. An artery may be detached from the chest wall and the open end attached to the coronary artery below the blocked area. A piece of a long vein in your leg may be taken.

One end is sewn above the blocked area and the other end of the vein is attached or "grafted" to the coronary artery below the blocked area. Either way, blood can use this new path to flow freely to the heart muscle. A patient may undergo one, two, three or more bypass grafts, depending on how many coronary arteries are blocked.

Cardiopulmonary bypass with a pump oxygenator (heart-lung machine) is used for most coronary bypass graft operations. This means that besides the surgeon, other surgical staff members include a cardiac anesthesiologist, surgical nurses, and a perfusionist (blood flow specialist). During the past several years, more surgeons have started performing off-pump coronary artery bypass surgery (OPCAB).

In it, the heart continues beating while the bypass graft is sewn in place. In some patients, OPCAB may reduce intraoperative bleeding (and the need for blood transfusion), renal complications and postoperative neurological deficits (problems after surgery). What happens after bypass surgery?

After surgery, the patient is moved to a hospital bed in the cardiac surgical intensive care unit. Heart rate and blood pressure monitoring devices continuously monitor the patient for 12 to 24 hours. Family members can visit periodically.

Medications that regulate circulation and blood pressure may be given through the I.V. (intravenously). A breathing tube (endotracheal tube) will stay in place until the physicians are confident that the patient is awake and ready to breathe comfortably on his or her own. The patient may feel groggy and disoriented, and sites of incisions — both the chest and the leg, if a segment of blood vessel was taken from the leg — may be sore.

Painkillers are given as needed. Patients usually stay in the hospital for four to six days and sometimes longer. During this time, some tests will be done to assess and monitor the patient's condition.

After leaving the hospital, the patient is usually enrolled in a physician-supervised program of cardiac rehabilitation. This program teaches stress management techniques and other important lessons (e.g. , about diet and exercise) and helps people rebuild their strength and confidence. Patients are often advised to eat foods low in cholesterol and saturated fat and to avoid trans fat while increasing daily physical activity to help regain strength.

Doctors also often recommend following a home routine of increasing activity — doing light housework, going out, visiting friends, climbing stairs. The goal is to return to a normal, active lifestyle. Most people will return to work.

Talk to your healthcare provider about setting realistic goals about when is best to return to work. The decision is usually based on the type of work and level of physical exertion required. See the Related Items box above for links to the Cardiology Patient Page in Circulation, Journal of the American Heart Association: Angioplasty Versus Bypass Surgery for Coronary Artery Disease Chest Pain Related AHA publications: About Your Bypass Surgery "What Is Coronary Bypass Surgery?

" in Answers By Heart kit AHA Scientific Statements on Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery Sources: American Heart Association..

In the year 2003, I had bypass surgery. They replaced all four main arteries and two small ones. Three out of the four were completly pluged off, the fourth was 98% plugged up.My advantage was I didn't have time to think about the operation, or who was performing it.

You see I was in the Hospital and had another operation, and had a heart attack during that operation. A few days later they did a catherazation and found the plugged arteries. A half hour later I was in open heart surgery.

A few days later my heart stopped, when they brought me back they put a defibalator implant in. Knock on wood, ever since then I have been fine.In this day and age they can do almost anything. If you lived in Delaware I would tell you to go to Christiana Hospital and I would recomend Cardiology Consultants They are fantastic and know what they are doing.

The Hospital has one of the best heart units around. That was 6 years ago and everything has been okay since then. I wish you the best of luck!

I was lucky I had the greatest Doctors in the world.My Doctor at the time was 53 years old and no longer did the surgery him self, but had a crack team that did the actual surgery.

Check out this webiste, has a lot of info about the surgery Hopefully you can trust your doctor and know that he has the experience and the know how to perform the surgery. For a good resource, go to heartbypass.org, they have tons of information and you can watch a real surgery on there too .

1 I'm sorry. I know you are worried, but there is no way your question can be answered.

I'm sorry. I know you are worried, but there is no way your question can be answered.

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