How many heart bypasses can a person have?

Answer 1

I am a cardiology nurse. I have seen patients get as few as 1 and as many as >12. Actually the patients that have had that many, the nurses stopped counting how many the doctor did. Now this doctor was pretty extreme. His patient's always did really well, so who is to argue with a mad scientist. A normal amount would be 4-6. Most surgeons will say that 6 is the max.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

CABG (coronary artery bypass surgery) is pretty serious. Ask where they're getting the vein from - if it's the great saphenous she'll have a cut on her leg too. More recently surgeons have been favoring taking the internal mammary artery (known as either a LIMA or RIMA, for left and right, respectively). Each site has a plus and a minus. Make sure you ask lots of questions and are sure you know what's going on. You have a right to know, and it's important that you understand. As for recovery, your mother will be tired for a long time, at least up to the next 6 months. Cardiac surgeries tend to be followed by a long period of anemia. No one knows why, but it will keep her tired. Make sure you follow the doctor's directions on exercise. It's very important to keep clots from forming in her legs (that can travel to other places in the body and cause lots of problems, like a heart attack or stroke), but it will also help prevent pneumonia and other respiratory problems (something called atelectasis). Tell her hug a pillow to her chest when she coughs -- it will help with the pain. As soon as she can, get her up and walking. It doesn't have to be a lot, just to the end of the hallway and back. The most important thing is for you to be supportive, get her moving, and expect a LOT of tiredness. Good luck and good health!

Answer 4

It depends on the number of blocked sections and their length, along with amount of collaterals. With extensive collaterals, fewer bypasses are required.

The purpose is too restore blood flow throughout the heart, otherwise, some sections of heart muscle will die. Doing 12 or more when required is dedication to a patients future well-being.

I have three bypasses. My collaterals take care of the rest. One of my blockages was about 3 inches long, the bypass about 6 inches long to the lower end of that artery.

Answer 5

I had 7 bypass operation nearly 4 years ago. Maybe some surgeons don't feel comfortable doing more than 6.

Answer 6

I had 6 vessels bypassed in 2001. My Dr was considered the best in the area at that time and got nothing but praise from the hospital staff that worked with him along with other surgeons in the OR. In the past 12 years I've had a couple of Dr's give me a strange look or snide remark when I told them I had 6 done...???
My surgeon told me I needed more done but they were too small. I've done fine for last 12 years...knock on wood....

Answer 7

My husband had a bypass (5 arteries) in Dec last year and is doing not too badly, but cardiologist has told him that this was a once in a lifetime op. The arteries are fine but he has a lot of damage to his heart. So I suppose the answer to your question is it depends on the condition of your heart how many ops you can have.

Answer 8

The most that I have heard from people who have had CABG is 2. I don't know if that is the limit or after undergoing 2 bypass surgery, they don't feel like undergoing a 3rd one.

Answer 9

Do you mean the surgeries? My neighbor had 4 separate surgeries and they considered her a medical miracle.

If you mean how many arteries at a time I think 6 my dad had 6 and his surgeon said that was the max at 1 time.

Answer 10

1 person can have about 69 heart bypasses