Procedure guide · Cardiac surgery
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is heart surgery that uses a healthy blood vessel from elsewhere in your body to carry blood past a narrowed or blocked coronary artery. The NHS describes it as an operation to improve blood flow to the heart. A cardiac surgeon in India reviews your angiogram before advising whether it suits you.
What is coronary artery bypass grafting?
CABG treats coronary heart disease. In this condition the arteries that feed the heart muscle become narrowed or blocked. The surgeon attaches a healthy blood vessel taken from another part of your body so that blood can flow around the blockage.
The NHS explains that most people need grafts on three arteries (a triple bypass) or four (a quadruple bypass). Some need only one or two. It is usually done as open heart surgery. Sometimes surgeons work through smaller cuts in the chest. The NHS also makes clear that a bypass does not remove the underlying heart disease. Its aim is to relieve symptoms such as chest pain (angina) and lower the risk of a heart attack.
Who may a cardiac surgeon consider for CABG?
The NHS lists the usual situations in which a bypass is considered:
- medicines alone are not enough to control your symptoms
- you are at high risk of a heart attack
- coronary angioplasty and stent insertion is not suitable for you
- severe symptoms develop and emergency treatment is needed
Whether CABG, a stent or medicines suit your arteries is a decision for your cardiologist and cardiac surgeon. It depends on where the narrowings are, how many there are and your general health. You can ask whether a cardiologist and a surgeon will look at your angiogram together before a plan is made.
Which reports does a cardiac surgeon usually ask for?
The NHS notes that you will have an angiogram first. This type of X-ray shows the heart’s blood vessels and helps the team choose a treatment. A surgeon in India will want to see it before giving an opinion. Ask the hospital whether it also needs:
- the angiogram images themselves (usually in DICOM format) as well as the written report
- a recent echocardiogram report
- a recent ECG
- recent blood tests including kidney function and HbA1c if you have diabetes
- a full list of your medicines with doses, especially blood thinners
- letters describing any lung, kidney or stroke history
How do I plan a CABG trip to India?
A bypass trip usually runs in stages. First a surgeon reviews your reports remotely. The hospital then sends a written plan and estimate. You apply for an e-Medical visa and your companion for an e-Medical Attendant visa. After admission come pre-operative checks, the operation, a period in intensive care and then the ward. Recovery near the hospital follows until your surgeon confirms you are fit to fly.
The NHS says full recovery from a bypass usually takes two to three months. That is a general figure. Only your own surgeon can tell you how long to stay in India. Bring one adult attendant who can stay for the whole trip and help with walking, meals and medicines. Before you fly home ask for your discharge summary, the operation note and your medicine list. Book a cardiologist at home to see you after you return.
What should I ask the hospital before booking?
- Which surgeon will operate and who leads my care in intensive care?
- Will the operation be through a full chest opening or smaller cuts, and why?
- Which blood vessels will be used as grafts?
- Will a cardiologist and a surgeon review my angiogram together?
- What does the estimate include and what could add to it, such as extra days in intensive care?
- Who can I contact after I return home if I have a question about my wound or medicines?
Who decides
IndiaMedica does not give medical advice. Your treating specialist decides whether this procedure suits you, the treatment plan, how long you stay and when it is safe to fly.
Questions people ask
Is CABG the same as having a stent?
No. A stent is placed through a thin tube passed along an artery from the wrist, groin or arm. CABG is surgery that creates a new route for blood using a vessel taken from elsewhere in the body. The NHS says a bypass may be considered when angioplasty and stent insertion is not suitable. Your heart team explains which applies to you.
Can my attendant stay with me in hospital?
Rules differ between hospitals, especially in intensive care. Ask the international patient department what it allows before you travel. Your attendant needs their own e-Medical Attendant visa, which is linked to your e-Medical visa application. Choose someone who is well enough to support you for the whole stay.
Will I need follow-up at home?
Yes. You will need a cardiologist or doctor at home who can review your wound, medicines and progress. Bring your discharge summary and operation note to the first appointment. Agree before you leave India how the surgical team can be contacted if your doctor at home has a question.
Sources
General information, not medical or legal advice. Rules change: confirm with the official source. Your treating specialist decides on suitability, treatment and length of stay. How we write and check.