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Risks
By Mayo Clinic staffBecause coronary bypass surgery is an open-heart surgery, you may have complications during or following your procedure. The most common complications of coronary bypass surgery are:
- Bleeding
- Heart rhythm irregularities (arrhythmias)
Less common complications include:
- Heart attack, if a blood clot breaks loose soon after surgery
- Kidney failure
- Infections of the chest wound
- Memory loss or troubles with thinking clearly, which often go away within six to 12 months
- Stroke
Your risk of developing these complications depends on your health before the surgery. Talk to your doctor to get a better idea of the likelihood of experiencing these risks.
If you're having a scheduled coronary bypass surgery, your risk of complications is usually low, but still depends on your overall health. The risk is higher if the operation is done as an emergency or if you have other medical conditions such as emphysema, kidney disease, diabetes or blocked arteries in your legs (peripheral artery disease, or PAD).
- Eagle KA, et al. ACC/AHA 2004 guideline update for coronary artery bypass graft surgery: Summary article — A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2004;110:1168.
- Bypass surgery, coronary artery. American Heart Association. http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4484. Accessed May 11, 2010.
- Shapira OM, et al. Coronary artery bypass graft surgery after acute ST elevation myocardial infraction. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed May 11, 2010.
- Aranki S, et al. Early cardiac complications after coronary artery bypass surgery. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 11, 2010.
- Aranki S, et al. Early noncardiac complications after coronary artery bypass surgery. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 11, 2010.
- Holzhey DM, et al. Seven-year follow-up after minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass: Experience with more than 1300 patients. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 2007;83:104.
- Suaya JA, et al. Use of cardiac rehabilitation by Medicare beneficiaries after myocardial infarction or coronary bypass surgery. Circulation. 2007;116:1653.
- Puskas JD, et al. Off-pump coronary bypass provides reduced mortality and morbidity and equivalent 10-year survival. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 2008;86:1139.
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