What Happens During a Quadruple Bypass Surgery
A quadruple bypass surgery is done to correct blocked arteries in order to treat coronary artery disease. Remember that a quadruple bypass surgery does not cure CAD rather, it treats and controls it. A heart bypass surgery is mostly successful with a typical recovery time of one month to 6 months, depending on how complicated the procedure was or depending on the recovery guidelines or the rehabilitation program recommended by the physician.
Immediately After Surgery
After the quadruple bypass surgery, the patient will have wires attached to his body in order to observe the pace of the heart. A tube is also connected to drain fluids from the chest. In some cases, a pacemaker is attached to the wires and chest until the patient is discharged.
Recovering after a quadruple bypass surgery requires the patient to stay in the intensive care unit for at least 1-2 days. It is imperative that the patient is kept under close observation as internal bleeding, cardiac arrest, stroke and infection may occur. The patient will then be transferred to a nursing unit and is expected to stay there for 3-5 days.
Recovering After Quadruple Bypass Surgery
Most commonly, the majority of patients recover within 8 weeks after the surgery but for others, recovering takes longer. Side effects are common, but fortunately they are temporary. These include fatigue, abnormal heart rhythm and increase of body fluid. If these symptoms persist and if new ones develop, inform the doctor immediately.
Before the patient is discharged, the doctor will give a prescription for medications. Patients and their caregivers will be educated about the prescribed drugs. Usually, quadruple bypass surgery patients are given medications to treat pain, hypertension, high cholesterol, depression or blood clots. Patients are expected to follow the instructions for proper administration of these medications.
Lifestyle and Diet Changes
In order to reduce heart problems after the surgery, patients must modify their lifestyle to decrease the risks for other heart problems in the future. It is important to reduce stress, quit smoking and adapt to a diet program that aims to lower cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension. Patients must also have a regular exercise regimen that is approved by the physician in order to promote physical fitness. These lifestyle changes will be able to greatly contribute to the patient’s speedy recovery from quadruple bypass surgery.
Cardiac Rehab
Most patients who have undergone a quadruple bypass go through a cardiac rehabilitation program under their physician’s supervision. A cardiac rehab program includes counseling about nutrition and medications and an exercise regimen to promote strength and flexibility. Before starting a cardiac rehabilitation program, patients need to consult their physician first and wait for their specific instructions.
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