Triple Bypass Surgery Complications

A bypass surgery is used to restore blood flow to a blocked artery. When multiple arteries are blocked--as in the case of a triple bypass, when three arteries are blocked--the surgery is considered major surgery and carries with it risks of complications. Some of these risks are associated with the surgical procedure itself and others associated with complications that can occur after surgery.

How It Works

• A triple bypass surgery is when three coronary arteries: the left anterior descending, the right coronary artery and the left circumflex artery are bypassed due to narrowing of the arteries. During the bypass procedure, veins are either harvested from the patient's arteries found elsewhere in the body or artificial veins grown in a lab or from other animals are used to re-flow blood through the new artery instead of the old, clogged artery. Following a successful surgery and recovery period, a patient should experience relief of symptoms, such as angina (chest pain), dyspnea (difficulty breathing) and easy fatigue.

Why Are Risks Involved?

• Triple bypass surgery is major surgery that requires incisions to the body and repair of the organ whose function is necessary for life. While a surgeon and the hospital facility itself should minimize risks through sterilizing the room and instruments used as well as practicing techniques that minimize blood loss, it is still possible for infection to occur. Other complications that are related to the surgery itself include adverse reactions to general anesthesia, which can include nausea and vomiting. You should speak with an anesthesiologist prior to surgery to assess any special risks involved with the procedure.

Immediate Potential Complications

• Complications that can occur immediately following surgery include excessive bleeding, which may be due to sutures in the arteries or even veins nicked during surgery. Your doctor should advise you as to your level of activity following surgery in order to prevent internal bleeding due to overexertion.

Long-Term Complications

• Triple bypass surgery is performed in the hopes that the surgery can reduce symptoms associated with an artery blockage, particularly chest pain. However, it is possible over time that chest pain will return following surgery, according to bypasssurgery.com. Another complications that can occur are due to mind-related functions, such as memory, comprehension and concentration skills.

Preventing Complications

• Just as it is possible for chest pain to return, the arteries can become clogged again, which is why it is important to minimize recurrence risks through behavior modifications and medications. You should cease smoking and engage in a cardiac rehabilitation program, if offered, that monitors your heart rate while exercising to ensure you are not placing too much stress on your heart. If your heart condition was due to high blood pressure or diabetes, taking medications to minimize symptoms also can help to reduce heart attack risk.