Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), commonly referred to as bypass surgery, is common. Coronary bypass surgery involves reopening an obstructed coronary artery by removing a blockage (such as a buildup of cholesterol and other substances).
Research shows that a CABG is the most commonly performed heart surgery procedure worldwide. While Blacks experience a higher incidence of heart disease (such as atherosclerosis), compared to other ethnic groups, they are much less likely to have cardiac (heart) treatment interventions (such as a CABG).
Getting ready for bypass surgery at home
Preparing yourself for bypass surgery is no small undertaking. Normal emotions associated with the upcoming event may include fear, anxiety, and feeling overwhelmed. Educating yourself on what to expect and how to prepare for the procedure can help alleviate negative emotions. Tips on how to get yourself ready for bypass surgery at home include diet and lifestyle changes, breathing exercises to optimize your lung health before surgery, and more. By employing some of these simple, (but not always easy) changes, you will be helping yourself improve the outcome of your surgery and shorten the recovery phase after your procedure.
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Lifestyle changes before surgery
You can shorten your recovery period and improve the outcome of your bypass surgery by implementing some lifestyle and other changes beforehand.
Quitting smoking: Ideally, you should give up smoking between two and four weeks before your surgery. If you smoke, it will delay your healing process after the surgery. New research reveals that quitting smoking approximately four weeks before surgery led to fewer postoperative (after surgery) complications. Recovery outcomes—such as how long it takes to return to normal functioning after surgery— were better for those who stopped smoking before surgery.
Quitting drinking: Alcohol should be avoided starting at least two days before surgery, Research indicates that heavy drinking increased the death rate for people who had heart bypass surgery (CABG). Alcohol consumption that exceeds five drinks each day is considered excessive by the American Heart Association. An average-sized alcoholic beverage equals 1.5 ounces of spirits, 5 ounces of wine, or 12 ounces of beer.
Note, if you are a heavy drinker, talk to your heart doctor or primary healthcare provider before your CABG procedure if you cannot quit drinking before your surgery.
Performing deep breathing exercises: Beginning deep breathing exercises before surgery is a great way to empower yourself to be proactive. Taking slow, deep breaths before and after surgery helps reduce the risk of pneumonia. Pneumonia is a common complication that occurs after surgery. Ask your healthcare provider about getting a device to help you perform deep breathing exercises, called an incentive spirometer. It will help if you practice deep breathing exercises approximately every three hours. There has been extensive research showing that deep breathing exercises before surgery help decrease the risk of pneumonia or other lung problems following surgery. Researchers found that patients who spoke with a therapist before surgery and learned breathing exercises experienced a 50% decrease in pneumonia and other serious complications.
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Eating a healthy diet: Eating heart-healthy foods before your surgery will lend itself to faster healing after the procedure. The American Heart Association has specific recommendations on which foods to eat and avoid on a heart-healthy diet. If you are overweight, losing the extra pounds is vital to heart health. To lose weight safely, you should aim to lose it gradually over time rather than attempting to lose it rapidly before your surgery. Eating nutrient-dense foods (such as bright-colored fruits and vegetables), adequate protein, complex carbohydrates (such as whole-wheat bread), and healthy fats (like avocados), will help your body heal after the surgery. Consider high protein supplement drinks if your appetite is not good. Your doctor may recommend a dietician if you are gaining or losing weight too quickly or if your healthcare provider recommends it.
Staying active: After heart bypass surgery, it is essential to stay active. You can check out specific recommendations from the American Heart Association on how much and what type of exercise you should do regularly. Before beginning any exercise program, be sure to get approval from your doctor.
Preparing for the hospital
Knowing what to bring and what to leave home when preparing to go to the hospital for your bypass surgery will help reduce your stress.
What to bring
You need to prepare a few things to bring with you on the day of your upcoming heart bypass surgery, including:
- Glasses or contact lenses (be sure to bring cases or storage containers)
- Identification card (such as your driver’s license)
- Insurance card
- Contact information (in case of an emergency)
- Comfortable, loose-fitting clothing and slippers with rubber backings
- Copy of your health-related legal documents (like your health proxy or living will)
- Detailed information about all medications you are taking (including names, dosage, and times of day you take each medication)
What you should not bring with you to the hospital:
- Valuables (such as jewelry and watches)
- Credit cards
- Cash (except a few small bills if you plan to shop at the hospital gift shop)
Note, that you won’t need personal items (such as clothing or cell phones) until you move from the surgery recovery area of the hospital to your hospital room. So, you may want to leave the things you will need after surgery packed at home on the day of your surgery. You can delegate someone to bring them in once you move from the ICU (intensive care unit) or CICU (cardiac intensive care unit) to your regular hospital room.
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What to wear
Prepare for your hospital stay by packing a bag to leave at home (until a friend or family member can bring them to the hospital after your surgery), including items such as:
- Comfortable, loose-fitting clothing to wear home from the hospital
- Loose-fitting, cotton loungewear (cotton fabric reduces friction and rubbing on sensitive areas such as incision sites after surgery)
- Comfortable foot covering (such as soft socks and rubber-backed slip-on shoes or slippers)
When to call the doctor (before your surgery)
Before your bypass surgery procedure, you should contact your healthcare provider if:
- You would like to know more about your bypass procedure, such as questions about how the procedure will be performed
- You need to make sure you’re prepared for surgery (such as knowing when to stop eating or drinking before your surgery)
- You need to confirm which medications to take on the morning of surgery (such as diabetic or blood pressure medications)
- The day before you are scheduled for surgery, you develop a fever, a cold or the flu
- Your decision to have the procedure performed has changed
- The surgical procedure needs to be rescheduled