What Are the Risks of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting?
Although complications from coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are uncommon, the risks include: • Wound infection and bleeding • Anesthesia reactions • Fever • Pain • Stroke, heart attack, or even death Some patients can develop a fever associated with chest pain, irritability, and decreased appetite. This is due to inflammation involving the lung and heart sac, and is sometimes seen 1 to 6 weeks after surgeries that involve cutting through the pericardium (the outer covering of the heart). This reaction is usually a mild, self-limited illness, but some patients may develop fluid buildup around the heart that requires treatment. Use of the heart-lung machine also can cause complications. Memory loss and other changes, such as difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly, may occur in some people. These changes are more likely to occur in people who are older, who have high blood pressure or lung disease, or who drink excessive amounts of alcohol. These side effects often improve se
Although complications from coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are uncommon, the risks include: • Wound infection and bleeding • Reactions to anesthesia • Fever • Pain • Stroke, heart attack, or even death Some patients develop a fever associated with chest pain, irritability, and decreased appetite. This is due to inflammation involving the lung and heart sac. This complication sometimes is seen 1 to 6 weeks after surgeries that involve cutting through the pericardium (the outer covering of the heart). This reaction usually is mild. However, some patients may develop fluid buildup around the heart that requires treatment. Memory loss and other changes, such as problems concentrating or thinking clearly, may occur in some people. These changes are more likely to occur in people who are older, who have high blood pressure or lung disease, or who drink excessive amounts of alcohol. These side effects often improve several months after surgery. Use of a heart-lung bypass machine incre
Related Questions
- What are the early outcomes of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with two- and three-vessel coronary artery disease?
- Can the added risk of stroke from combined coronary artery bypass grafting and carotid endarterectomy be predicted?
- Should patients with stenosis of the left main coronary artery waiting for bypass grafting be given priority?
