Triple Bypass Surgery

Coronary artery disease is a serious condition that has life-threatening implications. When a case is severe, surgery may be the optimal treatment option. Depending on the extent of his illness, a person with this condition may need triple bypass surgery in order to continue leading a healthy life.

Coronary Artery Disease

Triple bypass surgery is used to treat people who have coronary artery disease. When a person has coronary artery disease, arteries that lead to her heart have become blocked, impeding blood flow. This can be life threatening, as the person may have a heart attack as a result of the blockage. A surgeon performs triple bypass surgery to create new ways for the blood to flow in spite of the blocked artery.

Cause

Coronary artery disease occurs when a buildup of cholesterol, fat and other substances causes the arteries to be blocked, narrowing them significantly. Sometimes, such blockages can be fixed with other procedures, but severe cases often make heart bypass surgery necessary. In some cases, just one bypass, or new route, is necessary. When there are three blocked arteries and a need for three new routes, the surgery is called triple bypass.

Procedure

In bypass surgery, a doctor uses a vein or an artery from another part of the patient's body to create a new route through which the blood can flow. The detour the surgeon creates is called a graft. Often, a vein in the leg is used for this purpose. The doctor then attaches the vein or artery in two places--above the blocked artery and underneath it. This creates a new route for the blood to flow through, bypassing the blocked artery. For triple bypass surgery, three grafts are made.

Risks

Though triple bypass surgery can help save lives, there are risks involved. According to MedlinePlus, these risks include heart attack, wound infection, low-grade fever accompanied by chest pain, loss of mental clarity and abnormal heart rhythms. A person who has triple bypass surgery may also develop blood clots, difficulty breathing, infection of the lungs and chest and excessive blood loss.

Complications and Recovery

According to WebMD, the risk of serious complications caused by bypass surgery may be just 1 to 2 percent in those without a lot of other medical conditions. However, the risk potential varies with age, level of heart damage and other factors. According to the Mayo Clinic, recovery times average between six and 12 weeks.

Resources

• The Mayo Clinic on bypass surgery
• WebMD on bypass surgery
• MedlinePlus on bypass surgery

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