Triple heart bypass is caused when someone has severe blockages in multiple coronary vessels. The blocked arteries are limiting the blood flow to the heart muscle, resulting in chest pain or angina. After triple heart bypass surgery, the patient often feels pain-free because there is increased blood flow to the heart muscle.

Coronary artery bypass is diagnosed through physical examination (listening for abnormal sounds using a stethoscope), laboratory tests, imaging studies, stress testing, cardiac catheterization or angiography. Lab tests include analysing the complete blood count, electrolytes and renal function test, lipid profile and determination of coagulation status.

The best diagnostic test is cardiac catheterization. It involves inserting a thin tube into the artery under local anaesthesia, which is then threaded up to the heart. A dye is injected through the tube to see any blockages that are stopping blood flow to the heart. Stents may be inserted to open blocked coronary arteries.

Coronary bypass surgery re-routes circulation around the blockages by taking healthy arteries from parts of the body like the chest or leg. This means that after surgery there is normal blood flow to the heart muscle. During coronary bypass surgery, the chest must be opened and blood flow temporarily stopped while the vessels are re-arranged.

Coronary Bypass Surgery in India approximately costs Rs. 95,000 to 4,50,000. The prices may vary depending on the hospital, doctor, operation length and other factors that affect operating costs. There are three key heart bypass surgeries: off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting, on-pump CABG and minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass.

Coronary bypass surgery is a major surgery. Both off-pump and on-pump surgeries require the patient to spend a night in the hospital. General anesthesia is used during both procedures. The recovery time for an off-pump coronary bypass is typically 4-6 weeks, but may increase to 12 weeks.

Yes! Patients are required to make specific changes to their diet, lifestyle, exercise, and follow-up. They are expected to avoid consumption of fatty and oil-based foods, to return to normalcy. It takes some time to recover from such a surgery as the whole body has gone through a tough ordeal.

After coronary bypass surgery, patients should typically avoid:

• Raw fish and shellfish
• Certain types of meat including liver and eggs (or any food containing raw eggs)
• Fatty foods, especially those high in saturated fat. Foods to avoid include fried food, high fat cheese and anything with coconut or palm oil
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Citrus fruits

The procedure comprises taking a healthy blood vessel from the patient's body and attaching it to an artery that contains little or no blood flow, prior to the surgery. This vessel takes over the artery’s functions, which means that less blood is forced through an area with blockage or little blood flow or ischemia.

Coronary artery bypass surgery is recommended among people with severe heart disease that have been unable to manage their symptoms with medication. People whose risk factors are at intermediate or low risk tend to benefit the most from bypass surgery.

The saphenous vein is large, easily accessible and durable, lies superficially below the skin’s surface and has good stretchability. This is used for coronary bypass surgery. Other veins used include Arterial Grafts, Internal thoracic arteries, radial (arm) arteries. The saphenous vein runs along the inner thigh and it's easy for a surgeon to access.