Difference between open heart surgery and Bypass :. 

What is open heart surgery?

Open-heart surgery is a general term for surgical procedures performed to treat heart problems by directly accessing the heart through an opening the chest. During open-heart surgery, the surgeon will cut through the breastbone (sternotomy) and spread the ribs to access the heart.

Open-heart surgery is used to treat a range of heart conditions, including heart failure, heart valve disease, arrhythmias, aneurysms and coronary artery disease. 

The term "open heart surgery" means that you are connected to a heart-lung bypass machine, or bypass pump during surgery.Your heart is stopped while you are connected to this machine.

This machine does the work of your heart and lungs while your heart is stopped for the surgery. The machine adds oxygen to your blood, moves blood through your body, and removes carbon dioxide.

Common types of open-heart surgery include:

•Heart bypass surgery (coronary artery bypass graft -- CABG)

•Heart valve surgery

•Surgery to correct a heart defect present at birth 

How is open-heart surgery performed?

•The patient is given general anesthesia. This ensures that they will be asleep and pain free through the whole surgery.

•The surgeon makes an 8- to 10-inch cut in the chest.

•The surgeon cuts through all or part of the patient’s breastbone to expose the heart.

•Once the heart is visible, the patient may be connected to a heart-lung bypass machine. The machine moves blood away from the heart so that the surgeon can operate. Some newer procedures do not use this machine.

•The surgeon uses a healthy vein or artery to make a new path around the blocked artery.

•The surgeon closes the breastbone with wire, leaving the wire inside the body.

•The original cut is stitched up.

Sometimes sternal plating is done for people at high risk, such as those who’ve had multiple surgeries or people of advanced age. Sternal plating is when the breastbone is rejoined with small titanium plates after the surgery. 

What is the recovery time?

Recovery time depends on the type of surgery you have, but for most types of heart surgery you are likely to spend a day or more in the hospital’s intensive care unit. Then you will be moved to another part of the hospital for several days until you go home.

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute notes that the length of your recovery time at home will depend on the type of surgery you had, your overall health before the surgery, and whether you experienced any complications from surgery. For example, full recovery from a traditional coronary artery bypass may take six to 12 weeks or more.

What is heart bypass?

Heart bypass surgery, also known as a coronary artery bypass graft, is a procedure to treat coronary heart disease. It is the most common form of heart surgery in adults. 

The medical name for heart bypass surgery is coronary artery bypass graft (CABG). The procedure involves removing a blood vessel from the chest, arms, or legs and using it to create a detour or bypass around the blockage in the coronary artery that feeds the heart. This allows blood to reach the heart again. 

Heart bypass surgery is a relatively safe and effective procedure that reduces the risk of heart attack and death. The procedure might also ease symptoms of coronary artery disease, such as chest pain. 

Heart bypass surgery is a complicated procedure that involves a significant amount of preparation and recovery time.

What are the different types of heart bypass surgery?

Your doctor will recommend a certain type of bypass surgery depending on how many of your arteries are blocked.

•Single bypass. Only one artery is blocked.

•Double bypass. Two arteries are blocked.

•Triple bypass. Three arteries are blocked.

•Quadruple bypass. Four arteries are blocked. 

Your risk of having a heart attack, heart failure, or another cardiac issue depends on the number of arteries blocked. Blockage in more arteries also means that the surgery may take longer or become more complex.

How long does it take to recover after cardiac bypass surgery?

Recovering from cardiac bypass surgery generally takes most people anywhere from 6-8 weeks to 3 months. Before you leave hospital, you’ll be given detailed instructions for exercise, medications, follow up appointments, ongoing wound care and resuming normal activities.

You’ll also be encouraged to book into a cardiac rehabilitation program, which is a dedicated program that helps to support you, every step of the way, as you heal, recover and get back to your everyday routine.To find out more about cardiac rehabilitation, watch this short video.

It’s very common to feel ‘different’ for a short while after your cardiac bypass surgery. To hear from our social worker about some of the emotional changes you may experience during your recovery, watch this short video.