My SO is scheduled for triple bypass on Monday.

[no_hypocrisy]

He's 99 percent blocked in each of the coronary arteries.

Can someone tell me about the bypass procedure please? I only know that Clinton had a quadruple and Letterman had a quintuple.

Thanks so much.

[Faygo Kid]

1. At 99 percent, you are fortunate he is with you.

I assume it's a "he." I don't know much about it, but overweight in my mid-50s, I will probably learn about it soon.

All the best. Please report back to us.

[dsc]

2. Basically they take veins from your legs and construct new arteries for your heart

during the proceedure the person is put on a bypass machine and his blood is circulated by the machine instead of the heart. The quadruple and quintuple refer to the number of bypasses (4 and 5) that are constructed. Once the new arteries exist the heart gets the proper blood flow again.

[JuniperLea]

5. Well said

My mother had a quad two years ago... she is in horrible shape, a smoker, and refused a lot of the post-operative pain meds... and she sailed through the surgery and the recovery. This might tend to imply that they have this particular surgery down!

[madeline_con]

3. Here are a couple of links to get you started.

How Triple Bypass Heart Surgery Been Perfomed?

http://www.surgery-guide.com/bypass-heart-surgery-triple.html

From NPR:

Triple Bypass Surgery More Common
by Richard Knox
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=3888709



Here's a hug, you could probably use one right now. :hug:

[Tangerine LaBamba]

4. Recovery is tough

The chest incision is big and painful and takes a while to heal. He'll be given a certain kind of pillow to hold at times. But, they'll have him up and moving by the second day, or, at least, the third.

He's possibly going to be depressed. Watch for it and don't take it personally. He's going to be in pain, and the general anesthesia has a depressive affect on bypass patients. This could go on for a long time - a year or more. Just hang in there and realize it's nothing more than a drug reaction.

It's a big procedure, but with 99% blockages, it sounds like great luck.

Good luck.

[pitohui]

6. can't tell you technical stuff but our family's experience with this surgery is SUPERB!

i wish you good luck on his surgery -- i have to tell you, i'm truly impressed with how well it works out and you may be very much amazed at the new energy and new lease on life that he will experience after his recovery (which as others say, does take some time)

both of my parents have had quintuple bypass, and it's amazing how fast they were up and around, in fact, they are still active and traveling the world many years later in their 80s (dad) and 70s (mom)

i have another friend who had it done at 43, late 60s now, doing GREAT!

this is one of those surgeries that truly extends lives

[JuniperLea]

7. Good luck!

Take care of yourself through this... it's very important that you do! Eat good food, regularly, whether you feel like it or not. And sleep as much as you can... rest when you can't. While he is resting, you should too.

[no_hypocrisy]

8. Thank you all very much!

This is one of the hardest moments I've had in my life. I appreciate all the information, the advice, and the warmth you've given me.

He's a "young" 60, a very active man, and this diagnosis is a shock as he's seen a cardiologist for four years who didn't pick up on this whatsoever. Not even one coronary artery block. It's frustrating as well as shocking.

I'll report back on Monday with an update on the situation.

[elehhhhna]

9. once they recover form surgery they usually feel and look

remarkably better -- more color, more energy-- more like their old self.

It's a very commonly-done op and it will improve the length of honey's life, as well as the quality.

Watch for depressive symptoms beyond the normal post-surgical bumming...30 days or more after the op. Don't expect them though...it's also possible the patient gets a new, positive perspective on life after his/her first major health-scare. Happens all the time!

Good luck & blessings to you, n_h!

[Warpy]

10. You can Google the technical stuff online

Basically what will happen is that you'll get to the hospital before he goes to surgery. My advice to you is to take things like any dental appliances, glasses, wallet, jewelry and keys with you so everyone will know where they are. Believe it or not, this is important, nothing's worse than being half conscious in recovery and wondering where the hell your stuff is, especially the necessary stuff.

They'll give him some light sedation before they have him climb onto the gurney for the ride down to the holding room. You'll be able to go down in the elevator with him and say goodbye right outside the holding area. You'll be shown where the waiting area is. You can hang out there for the first half hour or so, just in case someone has a question, then my advice is to head for the cafeteria, buy a newspaper and magazine, and chill for a couple of hours elsewhere. If you knit, bring that. Then you can return to the holding area.

Usually it's three to four hours after they've been wheeled through the doors until someone comes out to talk to you. It can take up to eight hours if there are a lot of small vessels to tie off. They generally whip patients from the OR directly to intensive care. It will take at least an hour to settle him down and make sure all the necessary equipment is functioning properly, then you will be able to see him briefly after the operation. He will be semiconscious and on a ventilator, unable to speak. There will be lots of IV pumps, wires, tubes, and machinery around him. This is normal.

If you live far from the hospital, consider checking into a motel nearby, just in case they call you overnight (90% of the time, they won't). Make sure the nurses station has the number. Make sure you have the direct number to the nurses station.

Most patients come off the ventilator and are transferred to a surgical stepdown floor the next day. This is when your job starts, because he'll need to start walking, tubes and all, and your help will be greatly appreciated. This is when you return all his stuff to him.

He's got the easy part until the day after surgery, he'll be asleep for most of it.

Bypass operations have gotten very routine at the hospitals that do them. The statistics are very good and most people are out within five to seven days and able to resume normal activity in six to eight weeks. Your surgeon will give you a better guide on this stuff, tailored to your hubby's overall condition.

[dropkickpa]

11. My grandma had a quad 5 years ago at age 75

Her issues were caught at her regular check-up with her cardiologist (she had high BP), and she had surgery 3 days later. Her recovery was quite easy according to her, her biggest complaint was that she wasn't allowed to golf for a while, even after other regular activities resumed. She looked fantastic after she was all healed, and she noted that she felt better than she had in a long time, a lot more energy (she didn't realize how run-down she'd been feeling before the bypass).

[applegrove]

12. Let's hope for a speedy recovery. Good luck!