Clogged, plaque-filled coronary arteries within the heart are unable to efficiently transport blood to the heart muscle and increase a patient's risk of having a heart attack. Bypass surgery of the heart is a procedure in which a clear, healthy blood vessel taken from another part of a patient's body is inserted into the heart. This new blood vessel takes the place of the clogged artery, allowing blood to flow normally to the heart muscle. Patients should discuss the potential complications after bypass surgery of the heart with a doctor prior to the operation.
Incision Site Infection
Patients who have bypass surgery of the heart can develop an incision site infection as a complication of this procedure, MayoClinic.com reports. The incision site generally runs vertically along the center of the sternum or chest bone. Infection complications can include fever or incision site pain, inflammation or drainage. Affected patients may require antibiotic medication to resolve incision site infection complications after bypass surgery of the heart.
Postpericardiotomy Syndrome
Heart bypass surgery can cause postpericardiotomy syndrome in certain patients. This complication of surgery can result in a persistent low-grade fever in affected patients. Additional complications can include chest pain or discomfort, which can last up to six months following bypass surgery of the heart, the University of Maryland Medical Center explains.
Heart Arrhythmia
Unusual heart rate complications, called heart arrhythmias, can occur after bypass surgery of the heart, MedlinePlus warns. Affected patients can experience an abnormal increase or decrease in their heart rate, which may require further evaluation from a medical professional.
Memory Loss
Patients who undergo this type of surgery can experience cognitive complications following treatment. Such complications can last for up to a year following surgery and can include difficulty thinking clearly and memory loss, MayoClinic.com reports.
Fluid Around the Lungs
Approximately 90 percent of patients develop fluid around the lungs, or pleural effusion, after bypass surgery of the heart, according to UpToDate. Affected patients typically do not require additional medical treatment, as this complication generally resolves as the body begins to heal.
Heart Attack , Stroke or Kidney Failure
Heart attack complications after bypass surgery of the heart affect approximately 2 to 4 percent of treated patients, UpToDate reports. Typically, a heart attack that occurs after heart bypass surgery is mild or moderate, though affected patients require immediate medical attention. Additional complications after heart bypass surgery can include stroke, a condition that occurs when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, and kidney failure. Patients who exhibit any symptoms or signs of heart attack, stroke or kidney failure should receive emergency medical treatment.
References
- UpToDate: Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery - Bypass Surgery Complications
- The Society of Thoracic Surgeons: What is Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
- MedlinePlus: Heart Bypass Surgery
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Heart Bypass Surgery - Risks
- MayoClinic.com: Coronary Bypass Surgery - Risks
