What to Expect After Coronary Bypass Surgery
By Stephanie Trelogan

If someone's doctor informs him that his coronary arteries (the arteries that provide blood flow to the heart) are severely blocked, he may need to undergo coronary bypass surgery. Also known as coronary artery bypass grafting, this surgical procedure diverts blood flow around a section of blocked or diseased artery. According to the American Heart Association, more than half a million of these operations are performed every year. Bypass surgery is a major operation: The surgeon usually makes an incision along the breastbone (sternum), spreads the rib cage, stops the heart, and uses a heart-lung machine to circulate the blood during the operation.

In some cases, the surgeon may remove a section of a long vein from the leg and use it as a bypass graft.In this procedure, one end of the leg vein is grafted to the aorta (the large artery leaving the heart), and the other end is grafted to the coronary artery past the blockage. Alternatively, the surgeon may detach one or both of the internal mammary arteries (arteries that branch from the aorta) from the chest wall and attach the open end directly to the coronary artery downstream of the blockage.

Recovery from coronary bypass surgery depends on a number of things, including what type of bypass was done, the patient's physical condition before the operation, and whether he complies with his doctor's recommendations following surgery. A general timetable may help you plan for the future, but remember that there's no set schedule for recovery. Whether the patient experiences some or all of the following issues, here are some practical tips to help you both.

What you can expect:He may experience swollen legs for a few weeks after the operation. If the surgeon removed veins from his leg, the blood flow returning to the heart may be slower, causing fluid to accumulate in the ankles and lower legs. The swelling can be extremely uncomfortable.

What you can do:

• While he's resting on the bed or couch, place several pillows under his legs to raise his feet higher than his heart. Do this for an hour at a time, at least three times a day.
• Remind him not to sit in one position for a long time or cross his legs, which can impair blood flow.
• Once the doctor gives the OK, encourage him to walk as much as possible. Even short jaunts around the house or yard can help promote circulation.
• Ask the doctor if elastic support stockings might be helpful. You can buy these at any medical supply store and even at some drugstores.
• Notify the doctor if swelling worsens significantly or persists even with regular activity and elevation of the legs. Fluid buildup in the legs is a symptom of heart failure.

What you can expect: As part of the healing process, a lump may develop at the top of the incision. This is a seroma, a pocket of fluid that sometimes forms after surgery or traumatic injury. Typically, the lump will disappear in about six weeks, although it may take as long as several months.

What you can do: A lump and some discomfort are normal, but notify the doctor if there's increased tenderness, redness, or swelling, drainage from the incision, or a persistent fever.

What you can expect: Insomnia and fragmented sleep are common complaints after heart surgery. Normal sleep can be disrupted by pain, stress, or anxiety. He may find it difficult to fall asleep, or he may wake in the middle of the night and not be able to drift off again.

What you can do:

• Minimize pain and discomfort at night. Arrange pillows to help him find the most comfortable sleeping position. If he has been prescribed pain medication, have him take it 30 minutes before bedtime.
• Keep him busy so he won't nap too much during the day, but not so busy that he gets overly tired
• Eliminate caffeine in the late afternoon and evening.
• Play relaxing music.

What you can expect: It's normal for a person to feel fearful after heart surgery. He may be worried that the surgery wasn't successful or that he won't recover. He may be afraid that he'll develop future complications like heart failure.

What you can do:

• Let him talk about his fears. Don't brush off his concerns; keeping his feelings bottled up will make him feel worse. If it's difficult for you to hear his worries, help him find a support group or online community
• Encourage him to keep a journal. Sometimes just writing about negative feelings can defuse them.
• Remind him — and yourself — that his anxiety is most likely temporary. As recovery progresses, he's probably going to feel more like himself again.
• Encourage him to get back into a normal routine as soon as possible. Getting dressed first thing in the morning, going for a walk outside, resuming favorite hobbies, and socializing with family and friends are all excellent ways to relieve fear and anxiety.
• If his anxiety persists for more than four weeks, talk to his doctor. He may need counseling or antidepressant treatment.

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What Are the Different Types of Heart Surgery?
By Dave H Clark

In medical terminology 'Heart Surgery' refers to a surgical procedure which intends to replace the blocked coronary arteries with the veins obtained from the lower extremities of a patient. The general procedure involves placing the patient on a heart bypass machine. Then the surgeon performs surgery on the non-beating resting heart of the patient. With the surgery, it definitely improves the quality of life of a heart ailment sufferer.

In order to fix different heart problems of a patient, medical science has come up with numerous types of heart surgeries. Below is the brief description of these heart surgeries:

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: It is also abbreviated as CABG and is one of the most common types of heart surgeries. CABG is usually carried on a person with a serous coronary artery disease (CAD).

In such type of coronary artery disease, a fatty material referred to as 'Plaque' gets accumulated inside the coronary arteries of a patient, which then blocks the arteries and reduces the flow of blood in the heart muscle.

In this type of heart surgery, a surgeon usually takes an artery or a vein from the leg, chest or any other body part of a patient. He then grafts or connects them (veins /arteries) with the blocked artery. With this, the CABG helps to bypass the blockage. In one surgery, the surgeon can bypass the maximum of four blocked coronary arteries.

Transmyocardial Laser Revascularization (TLR): This type of heart surgery is usually carried out to treat angina. This is the last option of heart surgery when all the other treatment options have failed.

In this type of heart surgery, the surgeon effectively uses the laser technology to make channels in the heart muscle. These channels in turn allow the blood to flow directly from the heart chambers into the heart muscle.

Valve Repair /Replacement: Heart valves are responsible for letting blood flow in one direction. Each valve comprises of a set of flaps known as 'Leaflets'.

These leaflets when get opened allow the blood to pass directly into the arteries from heart chambers. Thereafter, the leaflets get closed firmly to stop blood from flowing back and forth into the heart chambers.

Valve repair is a kind of heart surgery which aims at operating the closed leaflets. The leaflets get closed due to the valve fusion which ultimately results in the flow of blood from the valves into the arteries getting discontinue.

To overcome this problem, surgeons usually carry out valve repair or replacement. These replacement valves comprise of human, animal tissue or any man-made substance.

Aneurysm Repair: An aneurysm refers to the abnormal bulging in the heart muscle or in the walls of the artery. This trouble usually occurs in the left-most heart chamber. With the passage of time, aneurysm can grow worst and gets burst, thus leading to the bleeding inside the body. It may also result in heart attack.

In order to overcome this trouble, surgeons usually carry out a surgery to replace the weaker sections of the artery with a graft.

Heart Transplant: Heart Transplantation is usually done on those patients who have weak heart that fails to pump enough blood for meeting the various body requirements.

This type of surgery intends to replace the un-healthy and diseased heart with the healthy heart. This surgical measure is usually practiced when all the medical treatments fail.

Only those patients who are either severely sick or need an instant heart transplantation are recommended to carry out this surgical remedy. This is due to the limited availability of donor hearts.

It is entirely up to the medical surgeon who diagnoses your heart problem carefully to decide which surgical procedure suits you best and then carry out the appropriate Heart surgery.

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Cardiac Surgery 101
By Alice Lane

With over five million Americans suffering with heart disease, cardiac surgery is often inevitable. Cardiac surgery is performed in a Kankakee County Hospital by a trained cardiac surgeon on the heart and possibly its great vessels. The surgery is done to correct congenital heart disease, treat valvular heart disease and for heart transplants.

The first cardiac surgeries occurred during the 19th century. These early operations were performed on the sac surrounding the heart (pericardium). The first successful heart surgery was performed on September 7, 1896 by Dr. Ludwig Rehn of Germany. Dr. Rehn repaired a stab wound to the right ventricle of the heart without any complications. After the 20th century, cardiac surgery was performed on the great vessels as well as the heart.

By 1952, researchers discovered it was necessary to have a still, bloodless environment to effectively perform cardiac surgery. The first correction of a congenital heart defect using the hypothermia method of stopping the heart and draining the blood was performed at the University of Minnesota by Dr. C. Walton Lillehei and Dr. F. John Lewis. In 1953, the first cardiac surgery was performed by a Soviet surgeon under local anesthesia.

After these developments, open heart surgery was performed. This term means the chest is open, rather than the heart, which may or may not be. Surgeons discovered hypothermia had limits because the body and brain still need blood flow. Artificial methods using an oxygenator were explored, coining the term cardiopulmonary bypass. By the 1990s, cardiac surgeons were performing beating heart surgery, referred to as off pump bypass surgery because a cardiopulmonary bypass is not used. The heart beats during surgery but is stabilized with the hope of fewer complications after the operation.

New forms of cardiac surgery are constantly being explored in the Kankakee healthcare system. Image technology is a less invasive way to treat coronary artery disease which required open surgery in the past. The Kankakee Illinois healthcare providers insert a flexible tube into a large vein or artery so the procedure is safer and the patient is exposed to less radiation. With fewer risks and a shorter recovery time, image technology is also used to treat a wide range or medical and neuro-vascular problems.

Another new type of heart surgery is robot-assisted. A machine controlled by the surgeon performs the cardiac surgery. The incision made no longer has to be large enough for a doctor's hands. Instead, three small holes are made for the small robotic hands to enter. Typically, recover time is shorter after robot-assisted heart surgery.

Updated cardiac surgery methods make the procedures at a Kankakee county hospital [http://www.riversidehealthcare.org/locations/kankakee.html] safer than ever before. Recovery time is shorter so patients can resume comfortable lifestyles after receiving Kankakee healthcare. Riverside Medical Center received excellence awards for cardiac surgery and cardiac care, making them a leader in Kankakee Illinois healthcare [http://www.riversidehealthcare.org/locations/kankakee.html]. Riverside is proud to be named by Thomson Healthcare as one the nation's Top 100 Hospitals® in cardiovascular care.

Getting to Know the Heart Surgery Process
By Brent McNutt

In the US, the price range of a heart surgery ranges from fifteen to thirty thousand dollars. That is dependent on the type of surgery one is going through. However, thousands of people still undergo heart surgery no matter how expensive it is. Some people are fortunate enough to have a health insurance in place. But how can a heart surgery really save a person's life? Let's take a closer look.

There are several reasons why a surgery is required in the heart.

1. It is done to fix or change the valves which direct the flow of blood through the chamber's of the heart.
2. It is used to by-pass or expand clogged arteries.
3. It fixes aneurysms. These are bulges in the aorta which can split open. This scenario can cause a person's death.
4. Insert devices to maintain the rhythm of the heart.
5. It is done to destroy some tissues that cause disturbance in the electrical flow through the heart.
6. It is done to create some canal in the heart muscle to enable the flow of blood.
7. It helps speed up the heart's ability to pump out blood.
8. It is done to replace a damaged heart from a donor's.

The heart surgery team is composed of the surgeon himself, assistant surgeons, cardiologist, surgical nurse, perfusionist, anesthesiologist, and a scrub tech/nurse. These people ensure that the surgery is efficiently done. Before the patient undergoes a surgery, he will have to go through a series of examination in order to determine whether he can make it through the surgery or not. This can help the patient decide whether or not to continue the surgery. If the patient will proceed with the surgery, he will be given a list of things to do/to bring prior to the surgery. He must comply with each requirement. The surgery is done in the Operating Room. The types of the heart surgeries include: the Heart Transplant, Coronary Artery Bypass Graft, Minimally Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypass, Heart Valve Surgery, Angioplasty/Balloon Angioplasty, and Non-Surgical Treatment Options.

After the surgery, the patient is transferred initially to the Intensive Care Unit, next to the CT Unit, and to the Telemetry Nursing Unit. Each of these sections has its own special function in the recovery of the patient. By the time the patient has fully recovered, he'd be ready to be discharged from the hospital. But prior to the patient's discharge, he will still be given a list of things to do/ medicines to take. All of these are aimed to make sure that the heart surgery process is completed successfully.

Basically, these pointers are the same ones being carried out in the heart surgery procedure. Some hospitals have highly sophisticated equipments for this kind of surgery. At present, heart disease is one of the leading causes of death. Going through a heart surgery doesn't guarantee 100% survival. To avoid having to go through all these, you must start taking good care of your heart today.

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Symptoms of Blocked Carotid Artery
By Kate Aucella

Blood and oxygen are carried to the brain through four arteries: the right carotid, left carotid, right vertebral and left vertebral. When the brain does not receive enough oxygen the carotid arteries become blocked; this is the number one cause of strokes, which account for the third-highest number of deaths in the US each year. An estimated 750,000 people suffer from them annually.

Carotid artery disease is a condition that occurs when plaque (a fatty material) builds up within the arteries. The medical term for this is atherosclerosis, or "hardening of the arteries," and greatly restricts blood flow to the brain. Another cause of strokes is when blood clots form in the arteries, which happens when the plaque build-up eventually cracks. It's important to be aware of potential indicators of these conditions, as it is possible for a stroke, or 'mini-stroke,' to be the first warning sign.

However, most people who have a stroke do not experience a mini-stroke first. Common symptoms include: numbness and/or weakness in the face or body (often just on one side), difficulty moving limbs, trouble speaking, a severe, sudden headache and dizziness.

Doctors usually choose one of two surgeries to treat this disease: carotid endarterectomy, usually for people whose arteries are blocked 50% or more and involves cutting into the neck and removing the plaque. The other procedure is called an angioplasty and is used to widen the carotid arteries, which restores blood flow to the brain.

Recent studies have shown that heart attack damage can be limited by implemented certain anti-oxidants, notable GSH, or glutathione, a powerful protein that speeds up cell metabolism and contains what some medical professionals are calling miraculous anti-viral properties. Overwhelming evidence has shown that the administering of glutathione offers critical support in not just heart disease and strokes, but chronic fatigue syndrome, Alzheimer's and cancer.
Montreal physician Dr. Jimmy Gutman is the author of "GSH, Your Body's Most Powerful Protector, Glutathione," and says that "in the next five or six years, people are going to be using the word glutathione as commonly as they use the word Vitamin C or antioxidant. Glutathione is virtually involved in dozens of critical cell processes and without it we would succumb to our environment literally within hours."

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Blocked Arteries in the Neck - Symptoms of Severe Arterial Plaque Deposits

Blocked Arteries in the Neck - Symptoms of Severe Arterial Plaque Deposits

By John M Campbell

The carotid arteries are 2 blood vessels, one either side of the neck, that each transport blood to the brain from the heart. These arteries can become partly or totally blocked resulting in the decrease of blood flow to the brain. This condition in turn is caused by atherosclerosis, also known as hardening of the arteries. Atherosclerosis is the outcome of a build up of cholesterol and calcium on the inner lining of the arteries. These deposits are referred to as plaques, which might eventually become so thick that they totally prevent the blood flow through the arteries. Those with untreated blocked carotid arteries are statistically likely to have a stroke.

Carotid artery occlusive disease is a permanent but treatable condition. Treatment is designed to stop further blockage and stroke. If there is some blockage devoid of symptoms, treatment will probably be limited to regular checkups, with ultrasound being used to monitor the condition along with medication that will cause the blood to thin to prevent the blood cells from clotting. Even if the arteries are severely narrowed, there is no guarantee of symptoms. If the blockage is severe, surgery might be recommended to reduce the possibility of stroke.

The most usual method of surgery, carotid endarterectomy, seeks to remove the plaque from the artery. For some patients, a balloon angioplasty (the inflating of a balloon to press the plaque to the artery wall), with the placement of a stent, may be recommended. If a carotid artery is 100% blocked, then it is unlikely anything would done to clear it because the risk of stroke is too high during or post operation.

Efforts are then concentrated on keeping the opposite carotid as open as possible. A person can live a good life with only one open carotid artery. The body is smart enough to reroute blood via a complex network to the side of the brain that would normally get blood via the blocked carotid. A dietitian (check with her MD) could help you devise an eating plan that is healthy & affordable.work).

If the brain is deprived of oxygen, it stops working — with potentially catastrophic effects. If the resulting impairment is permanent, we call the event a stroke. If it is temporary, it's called a transient ischemic attack (TIA).

Every human has 4 carotid arteries through which blood moves from heart to brain. TIAs and strokes normally begin with an increase of cholesterol plaque in the carotid arteries — the large blood vessels on either side of the neck which supply blood to the head and brain.

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