9 Complications With Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Coronary artery bypass surgery is a procedure used to restore blood and oxygen flow to the heart muscle after being restricted due to coronary artery disease. The operation is designed to bypass the area of the blood vessel in which a clot exists by taking a healthy vein from another area in the body and creating a new path for blood and oxygen to reach the heart. Most patients remain symptom-free for several years, but in rare cases, life-threatening complications exist.

9. Bleeding

One possible complication of coronary artery bypass surgery is bleeding at either the spot where the healthy vein was extracted from or bleeding where the artery was reattached. According to a 2009 study, reoperation for bleeding remains a significant complication of coronary artery bypass surgery. It was noted to occur in 2.4 percent of people post-surgery. However, the study noted there had been a decrease in the number of deaths for patients with this condition.