How a coronary artery bypass graft is done

What happens during a coronary artery bypass graft

A coronary artery bypass graft is done in hospital. You'll usually need to stay in hospital for about a week.

You'll be given a general anaesthetic, so you'll be asleep during the operation.

It's usually done by making a large cut in the middle of your chest (called open heart surgery).

Sometimes it can be done by making several smaller cuts and using a camera to see your heart (called minimally invasive surgery or keyhole surgery). Recovery is usually quicker if you have this type of surgery, but it's not always suitable.

The operation usually takes 3 to 6 hours.

The main steps of a coronary artery bypass graft are:

1. The surgeon makes a long cut down the centre of your chest and through your breastbone (open heart surgery), or several smaller cuts in your chest near the affected arteries, and puts tools and a camera through the cuts (keyhole surgery).
2. The surgeon removes 1 or more healthy blood vessels from another part of your body, usually your leg or chest.
3. Your heart will usually be connected to a machine to keep blood flowing around your body during the operation (heart-lung bypass machine).
4. The healthy blood vessels are attached (grafted) so that blood can flow around the damaged part of the artery. You may need up to 4 grafts.
5. If a heart-lung bypass machine was used, once the new blood vessels are attached your heart is ready to start pumping blood again and the machine can be disconnected.
6. If you had open heart surgery, your breastbone is closed using metal wires. The wires will usually be left in permanently.
7. The cuts in your chest are closed using stitches that dissolve so they do not need to be removed.

After the operation

You'll usually be taken to intensive care after a coronary artery bypass graft.

Machines will record how your heart and lungs are working. At first, you may need a machine to help you breathe (ventilator) that's connected to a tube in your throat. This will be removed once you're fully awake, and you'll be given oxygen through a face mask.

You may have tubes in your chest to drain fluid, which will be removed after 1 or 2 days.

You'll be given pain relief when the anaesthetic wears off.