If you have been told that you need a coronary artery bypass grafting surgery, you probably have a lot of questions — especially about how long the procedure and recovery take. The answers depend on several factors, including the type of surgery and your overall health.
Read on to learn more about this common heart surgery, the average completion time, and the differences between traditional open-heart and minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgeries.
What is coronary bypass graft surgery (CABG)?
You may have heard of heart bypass surgery, or as your doctor may call it, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG, pronounced “cabbage”).This common procedure is used to treat coronary artery disease, a condition where the arteries that supply blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked.
During surgery, surgeons create a new pathway for blood to flow to the heart, using a healthy artery or vein from another part of the body.
Think of it like taking an alternate route to drive to work when traffic backs up on the interstate. When a blockage occurs, CABG helps your heart get the oxygen it needs more effectively.
How long does a CABG procedure last?
The duration of a CABG surgery can vary widely depending on which approach the surgeon uses. They can do a traditional open-heart surgery, or they can use minimally invasive techniques with the aid of a surgical robot. Traditional Open-Heart CABG Surgery
Open-heart surgery is the most common method for doing a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). It typically takes between three to five hours to complete. The exact time can vary based on factors such as:
- How many arteries are bypassed
- Your overall health
- Whether there were any complications during surgery
What happens during an open-heart CABG surgery?
While the patient is under general anesthesia, the surgeon begins the CABG surgery by making a large incision down the center of the chest, cutting through the sternum (breastbone) and spreading it to access the heart. This approach is called a sternotomy. It gives your surgeon a clear view and direct access to the heart and coronary arteries.
A heart-lung machine will be used to circulate blood and oxygen throughout your body while the heart rests. The surgeon will take healthy blood vessels from elsewhere in the body and attach them to the coronary arteries downstream from the blockages.
How long is recovery after an open-heart CABG surgery?
Immediately following open-heart bypass surgery, patients at Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) Gainesville usually spend a few days in the Ronnie Green Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit for close monitoring before being moved to a regular hospital room. The total hospital stay can range from three to seven days.
Recovery from traditional open-heart coronary artery bypass graft surgery can range from weeks to a few months. It depends on your health and how well you follow your post-operative care instructions.
Minimally invasive robotic-assisted CABG surgery
Minimally invasive robotic-assisted CABG surgery is a newer technique. It offers advantages over traditional open-heart surgery, including faster procedure duration and recovery.
What happens during a robotic-assisted CABG surgery?
With this approach, the surgeon makes several small incisions in the chest and then inserts specialized instruments and a high-definition camera. The surgeon controls these instruments using a robotic system that allows for greater precision and flexibility. A heart-lung machine is not used in this type of procedure.
Since the CABG surgery with robotic assistance is less invasive, the procedure takes less time than open-heart surgery, typically two to three hours. Because there is no sternotomy, it takes less time to access the heart, resulting in less blood loss, lower risk of complications, reduced pain and a shorter hospital stay
Currently, surgeons can bypass only one vessel on the front of the heart during a robotic-assisted CABG surgery. If there are other blockages, they may need to be treated with stents at another time.
How long is recovery after a robotic-assisted CABG surgery?
Most patients who undergo minimally invasive robotic-assisted CABG surgery can expect to spend only one to two days in the hospital. Recovery time is also much shorter. Many patients return to normal activities within two to three weeks. This quicker recovery is due to the smaller incisions and reduced trauma to the chest and surrounding tissues.
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If you need a coronary artery bypass surgery, you want a team of experts who can deliver the best possible outcome. Whether it’s a traditional open-heart surgery or minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery, you can depend on the surgeons of Northeast Georgia Physicians Group Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery. Drawing on their experience and expertise and utilizing the latest technologies, they can help you decide on the best approach for your unique case.
Click the button below to find a surgeon and schedule an appointment. Or call NGPG Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery at 770-219-7099.
J. Clifton Hastings, MD, is a cardiothoracic surgeon with Northeast Georgia Physicians Group Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery.