Your doctor has recommended that you undergo bypass surgery because fatty deposits have narrowed your coronary arteries (the vessels that supply blood to your heart). Now, you probably have questions
and concerns about the operations. What is Bypass Surgery?
Bypass surgery is an operation in which surgeons create a bypass (detour) to allow blood to go around blockages in the arteries.
To make a
bypass, surgeons use a graft, a blood vessel from the leg or chest. With the graft in place, blood can flow freely to the heart muscle, going around the narrowed or blocked section of the artery. How You Can Help Yourself
Most bypass patients recover completely and are able to enjoy many of the same activities they did before surgery. But surgery does not work alone. The health care team needs your help and cooperation. Be sure to follow your doctor's instructions, report symptoms and side effects, and keep a positive attitude.
In addition, you can help prevent the build-up of new fatty deposits in
your arteries by making changes in your lifestyle: do not smoke, enjoy a heart-healthy diet, and exercise regularly. How the Heart Works
The heart is a hollow organ that constantly pumps blood throughout the body. It is made up of strong muscle tissue, called heart muscle.
The Heart As a Pump
The heart has four chambers: two chambers on the left side and two on the right. The upper chamber on each side, called an atrium, receives and collects blood. The lower chamber on each side, called a ventricle, pumps blood out of the heart.
The four heart chambers work together to contract and
pump blood. As is circulates, blood delivers oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. The Coronary Arteries
In order to keep pumping, the heart itself must have a continuous supply of oxygen-rich blood. The coronary arteries are the vessels that carry blood to the heart muscle. As blood leaves the left ventricle, it is pumped into the aorta, the body's main artery. At the very
beginning of the aorta, near the top of the heart, emerge the two coronary arteries. They are referred to as the "left" and "right" coronary arteries. The first segment of the left coronary artery is called the
left main artery. It is about as wide as a drinking straw and less than an inch long. It is an extremely important vessel, since is supplies over two-thirds of the oxygen-rich blood feeding the heart muscle.
The left main artery then branches into tow slightly narrower arteries: the left anterior descending, which travels down the front side of the heart; and the left circumflex, which circles around the left side and then to the back of the heart. The right coronary artery emerges from the aorta, circles around the right side, then goes to the back of the heart. The coronary arteries travel on the outer
surface of the heart. They divide into smaller branches which penetrate deep into the heart muscle, carrying oxygen and nutrients to the cells. CONTINUED> |
