Heart Bypass Surgery
When plaque builds up on your arterial walls, less blood flows to the heart muscle. This results in a type of coronary artery disease (CAD) called atherosclerosis. If your coronary arteries become too narrow, a doctor may recommend bypass surgery. To determine if you need the surgery, a professional will run a series of tests before a bypass operation to assess your condition. Tests before your bypass surgery will help healthcare professionals determine an accurate pre-operative diagnosis for bypass surgery so you can receive the best course of treatment. Pre-op testing for bypass surgery will also be performed closer to the date of your procedure to assess your physical condition and ensure you’re healthy enough to have the operation.
If you need a bypass procedure, a professional will request that you undertake some pre-op testing for bypass surgery. Pre-op testing for bypass surgery ensures the professional’s pre-operative diagnosis for bypass surgery is accurate, and it confirms that you’re fit enough to have the operation. You’ll be taken to a pre-admission clinic to perform tests before your bypass operation, discuss your pre-operative diagnosis for bypass surgery and prepare you physically and emotionally for the procedure. Pre-op testing for bypass surgery can take up to four or five hours, and you’ll be required to bring a list of all your current medications.
The most common tests before a bypass operation include:
- Breathing tests
- Carotid ultrasound test
- Routine physical examinations (like blood pressure, blood work, chest x-rays and pulmonary function tests).
After your pre-op testing for bypass surgery, members of the team will talk you through your operation, the possible complications, and how long your recovery will take. Pre-op testing for bypass surgery will determine if your body can cope with the surgery. If tests before your bypass operation prove that you’re not fit enough to undergo the procedure, it may be rescheduled for a later date or cancelled ultimately; however, this is rare. Pre-op testing for bypass surgery is minimally invasive and effective, but if you’re concerned about your procedure, you should talk to a professional.
What is a pre-operative diagnosis for bypass surgery?
In the surgeon’s opinion, a pre-operative diagnosis for bypass surgery is the diagnosis that will be confirmed during surgery. A pre-operative diagnosis for bypass surgery is determined through a series of tests before the bypass operation, otherwise known as a pre-operative assessment. Your pre-operative diagnosis for bypass surgery will govern the type of bypass you’ll need. This could be either:
- Single
- Double
- Triple
- Quadruple
The type of bypass you’ll need will depend on the number of arteries blocked. More blockages can mean that surgery could take longer or be more complex; however, a pre-operative diagnosis for bypass surgery will determine this. Tests before your bypass operation will confirm the type of bypass you need. Pre-op testing for bypass surgery will also assess how well your arteries are coping in their current condition. The tests before your bypass operation can also determine if this procedure needs to be adjusted.
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