Why Bypass Surgery?
Generally, bypass surgery is done either to reduce syptoms of coronary heart disease, such as angina, or to help prevent a heart attack. Coronary Heart Disease
The inside walls of arteries are normally smooth and flexible, allowing blood to flow through them easily. Over the years, the inside of an artery's wall may become plugged with fatty deposits. As these fatty
deposits, known as plaque, continue to build up, they narrow the inside of the arteries and can reduce the flow of blood. These deposits may sufficiently reduce blood flow in the coronary arteries to cause angina
or heart attack. Angina is a pain or discomfort in the chest, arm, or jaw that occurs when an area of the heart muscle does not receive enough oxygen. In most cases, the inadequate supply of oxygen is
caused by narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. Angina typically occurs with exertion or stress, when the heart works harder and needs more oxygen. Patients with angina are at risk of developing a heart attack. A heart attack occurs when a coronary artery is completely blocked by a blood clot. The area of the heart muscle fed by that artery dies and then turns into scar tissue as it heals. A scarred heart may not pump as efficiently as a normal heart. How is the Diagnosis Made?
If your doctor suspects you have coronary disease, he or she will recommend diagnostic tests such as an exercise test, a heart scan, and cardiac cathetertization. Cardiac catheterization is a procedure in which a catheter (a long, flexible tube) is inserted into a blood vessel and slowly advanced to the heart. Cardiac catheterization allows doctors to assess the heart's pumping action and take pictures of the coronary arteries. In patients with coronary disease, the pictures indicate where the blockages are and how severe they are. Such information is important in helping doctors select the best treatment. What are the Treatment Options?
Several options are available for treating patients with coronary heart disease,
including medications, coronary angioplasty, and bypass surgery. Medications can help reduce symptoms of angina either by improving the supply of oxygen to the heart muscle and/or reducing the heart's need for oxygen. However, drugs do not eliminate existing blockages in the arteries. Coronary angioplasty is a technique used to widen the passageway in narrowed arteries without surgery. It relieves symptoms of angina by improving blood flow to the heart muscle.
During the procedure, a
special catheter with a small balloon at its tip is guided into the diseased artery. When the catheter reaches the narrowed or blocked area, the balloon is inflated. This stretches the artery and flattens
the plaque against the artery's wall. A small mechanical device, called a stent, is often placed in the artery at the time of angioplasty to help keep the vessel open. Early regrowth of plaque (known as restenosis)
is a major disadvantage of angioplasty. About a third of patients experience regrowth of plaque within six months after initially successful angioplasty. <BACK CONTINUED> |
