How Long Does Bypass Surgery Take?

Coronary Bypass Surgery Duration

The duration of bypass surgery may vary depending on the method by which the surgical operation is performed, the patient's age and general health condition, and the presence of other heart diseases. Today, in bypass surgeries performed with modern surgical techniques, it is possible to perform the surgery while the heart is functioning.

It can be used in bypass surgeries, coronary artery bypass surgery, cardiopulmonary bypass, vascular bypass surgery and bariatric surgery. The duration of vascular bypass and bariatric bypass surgeries may vary depending on the surgical procedure and the general health condition of the patient. Coronary artery bypass surgery usually takes 2-4 hours. Surgeries performed using minimally invasive surgery and without stopping the heart can take 1-3 hours. After bypass surgery without using a pulmonary heart pump or stopping the heart, patients recover in a shorter time. Moreover bypass in working heart surgeries carry lower risks than bypass surgeries in which the heart is stopped.

How Long Should You Stay in the Hospital After Bypass Surgery?

The length of hospital stay after coronary bypass surgery may vary depending on factors related to both the patient and the surgery. The length of hospital stay is determined depending on the patient's age, other heart diseases, lung functions, surgical method and conditions such as diabetes and chronic diseases. The length of time the patient stays in intensive care after surgery also varies depending on the patient and factors related to the surgery.

In bypass surgeries performed with minimally invasive surgery, the hospital stay is generally shorter as the intensive care period is shorter and the risk of complications is less. However, the average hospital stay is 4-6 days. As in all surgical operations, risks for the patient are of great importance in heart bypass surgery. To minimize postoperative complications, the discharge time for patients, especially those in the risk group, may be extended.

Returning to Daily Life After Bypass Surgery

The time to return to daily life after surgery is 2-3 weeks in minimally invasive surgery. However, in some patients, this period may extend up to 4 weeks. Since the risk of postoperative complications may be higher in individuals who have diseases such as cholesterol, blood sugar, high blood pressure and obesity and live a stressful life, these patients need to be followed up regularly. Bypass surgery time, which is usually 2-3 hours, may take up to 4-5 hours in patients in the risk group.