Critical illness cover and Alzheimer’s disease
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- affects 1 in 4 women / 1 in 5 men before retirement
- 94.1% of the critical illness claims are paid
- protect yourself and your family if you get seriously ill
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Coronary Bypass Surgery
Coronary Bypass Surgery is a procedure that is performed to redirect blood flow around a clogged coronary artery, so that blood may travel freely to the heart. The surgery involves taking a blood vessel (vain or artery) from the patient’s leg, chest, or arm, and connecting it above and below the clogged artery, thus providing a new pathway through which blood can access the heart muscle.
Coronary Bypass Surgery does not cure the heart disease, nor clear the blocked artery. It simply provides a new passageway and may ease symptoms such as shortness of breath and chest pains. Occasionally, this surgery is performed as an emergency response for a heart attack and can save lives by restoring heart functionality.
In other cases, this procedure is performed when the patient shows symptoms of Coronary Artery Disease, or otherwise shows signs of having clogged arteries. Such symptoms can include reoccurring severe, sharp chest pains, and shortness of breath.
Due to the invasive nature of this procedure, it is usually only performed as a last resort. Medical professionals will usually try to unblock the artery using a catheter and will only resort to Coronary Bypass if the specific blockage cannot be cleared, or if there are multiple diseased arteries.
The procedure:
If the surgery is not performed in an emergency setting, the medical professional may instruct the patient as to a specific diet, regulations in activity, or other similar changes that should be made in preparation for the procedure.
The surgery usually takes between three to six hours, and it is performed under general anaesthesia. A ventilator will keep the patient breathing during the procedure.
The Surgeon will typically make an incision down the centre of the chest and spread open the ribcage to expose the heart. The heart is stopped, and an external heart-lung machine will maintain blood and oxygen flow throughout the patient’s body.
The surgeon will then remove a blood vessel (such as a vain) from another part of the patient’s body (often the leg), and attach it to the heart, above and below the obstruction in the artery. The extra blood vessel provides a healthy pathway, which allows blood to flow unobstructed into the heart.
When the pathway is successfully assembled, the surgeon will restore the patient’s heartbeat, and close their chest bone with wire.
Recovery:
Most patients will spend a couple of days in hospital following this procedure. Medical professionals will create a rehabilitation program to help the patient recover. This may include specific exercises, as well as education about activities and foods to avoid. These programs are usually monitored in the hospital for a few days, and then continue at home when the patient is discharged.
After being discharged, slight pain and shortness of breath are common and normal symptoms. The recovery period may extend up until twelve weeks.
If the patient suffers any abnormal symptoms, such as high fever, increased heart rate, new pains around your chest wound, or bleeding, they should contact their doctor immediately.
Results:
The procedure, if successful, may make the patient symptom free for up to 15 or more years. However, it is not uncommon that other arteries (or even the new bypass) will clog over time, requiring surgical correction.
In order to mitigate this chance, it is important that the patient takes the medication prescribed by the doctor. They should also maintain a healthy lifestyle. This means no smoking, maintaining a nutritious diet and healthy weight, exercising regularly, and managing stress levels.
Risks:
As with any surgery, a Coronary Bypass is not risk free. Opening the heart can result in numerous complications, although it is important to note that the chances of these complications are generally quite low.
Some common complications include:
- Infections in the wound
- Excessive bleeding
- Irregular heart beat
- Kidney problems,
- Stroke
- Heart attack
These risks are aggravated if the surgery is performed in an emergency setting. Likewise, the risks are higher if the patient’s health is poor, before or after the procedure. This is why it is imperative to maintain a healthy lifestyle – especially if you have had this surgery or are otherwise at a higher risk of heart problems.
Statistics
- More than 747000 Canadians suffer from Alzheimer’s or other forms of dementia.
In 2020, 15 out of every 100,000 Canadians died of Alzheimer’s Disease
1 in 5 Canadians have experience caring for someone who has Alzheimer’s or other forms of Dementia.
We estimate that by 2030, over 912000 Canadians will be living with Dementia, including Alzheimer’s Disease
56% of Canadians are concerned about being affected by Alzheimer’s disease
Conclusion
Now that you know about the procedure of a Coronary Bypass Surgery, you can understand why it is important to have it covered by your health insurance. Canadian Insurance Centre provides high quality insurance that covers this procedure, as well as many others.
It is our mission to make sure that our clients get all the help they need, especially if they are at risk of heart conditions. Contact us today to learn more about our policies and to get a free quote.
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