Coronary-bypass surgery may be necessary for heart disease cases in which lifestyle changes and medications have been unsuccessful in restoring adequate blood flow to the heart. In this operation, surgeons take a healthy vein from the arm, leg, chest, or abdomen and connect it to arteries leading from the heart, according to MayoClinic.com. The result is that blood is bypassed around vessels that have become blocked or diseased, and normal blood flow is returned to the heart. While coronary-bypass surgery does not cure the underlying heart disease, it may provide relief from symptoms like shortness of breath, chest pain and activity intolerance.
Cardiac Complications
Cardiac complications such as a heart attack may occur after a cardiac-bypass procedure, but they're usually mild to moderate in severity, UpToDate.com reports. Heart arrhythmias, when the heart beats irregularly, also may occur. Due to the risk of cardiac complications after a bypass procedure, patients will receive continuous cardiac monitoring throughout their hospitalizations.
Infection
The surgical site of a coronary bypass may become infected. Obesity, diabetes and a history of breast cancer increase a patient's risk for infection, MayoClinic.com reports. Infections may occur up to 10 days after surgery. Treatment includes antibiotic therapy.
Postpericardiotomy Syndrome
Patients who undergo coronary-bypass surgeries are at risk for developing postpericardiotomy syndrome, during which a low-grade fever and chest pain develop as part of the body's inflammatory response to surgery, according to Medline Plus. Treatment may include antibiotics and nonsteroidal, anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen or naproxen to help with pain and inflammation. Symptoms of postpericardiotomy syndrome may persist for up to six months.
Neurological Complications
Possible neurological complications after a coronary bypass include stroke, confusion, short-term memory loss and depression. Some patients may experience trouble thinking clearly; these symptoms may continue for six to 12 months after surgery, MayoClinic.com reports. Neurological complications are more common in women and older patients, according to UpToDate.com.
Other Complications
Other possible complications of bypass surgery include kidney failure and pleural effusion. UpToDate.com reports that approximately 30 percent of patients require blood transfusions due to blood loss during and after the procedure. In rare cases, a patient may experience postoperative bleeding that requires an additional operation to repair.
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