QUESTION: Describe the common post operative
care for a CABG patient.
ANSWER:
After bypass surgery Care at home
- After bypass surgery of CABG patient, they usually discharge
from hospital within five days but in some cases the discharge time
is delayed until the patients condition is stable.
- Before discharging of patient from the hospital, the family
memeber of the patient necessary to understand about the discharge
plan.
- Generally after successful completion of the bypass surgery, it
is common to start new medicatios and stop the doses of previous
medication.
- The patient who have discharge from the hospital, prescribed
several medications which are compulsory taken every day.These
medications are used to decrease risk of complications,help to
prevent recurrent chest pain and improve survival.
- Antiplatelet therapy- Aspirin is a type of
antiplatelet medication used to prevent the formation of blood
clots which can block coronary bypass graft.
- Nitrates- Nitrate is a type of drug given to
the CABG patient.These drugs are used to bringing more blood to the
heart muscle and also reduce the amount of blood returning to the
heart.
- Beta blocker- Beta blocker is used to lower
blood pressure,slow heart rate,and also decrease the hearts demand
for oxygen of a CABG patient.
- The CABG patient is given instructions about how to care for
their leg wound and also chest wound, after discharge from
hospital.After bypass surgery, about six to eight weeks there is
strictly avoid heavy lifting and extremes of shoulder
movements.
- There are many wound infections which are develop within 14
days of the surgery such as a rapid heart rate,fever which is more
than 38 degree celcius, pain in the cheest, reddened skin etc.
Reduce cardiac risk factor
After bypass surgery there are some instruction given to the
patients for reduce the cardiac risk factor these are:
- Stop smoking- Smoking can cause the risk of
coronary heart disease and heart attack so stop smoking can reduce
these risk.
- A heart healthy diet should be follow- A
healthy diet plan can rapidly reduce the risk of coronary heart
disease.
- Manage diabetes- People who have diabetes are
increased risk of developing complications after bypass surgery.So
control of the blood sugar level an decrease the risk of coronary
heart disease.
- Psychosocial treatment- Psychosocial treatment
also needed for the CABG patient.According to a study, it is found
that about 40% people feel depression,anxiety after bypass surgery
so psychosocial treatment is necessary.
- Exercise- Exercise is the most important thing
for the CABG patient.It is used to improve cardiovascular health.
After the patient discharge from the hospital, the duration of
exercise must be adjusted according to the severity of a persons
heart disease.The exercise must be include large muscle group and
aerobic exercise such as jogging,walking,cycling etc.The frequency
of exercise must be varies from 3 to 5 times in a week.Home based
exercise also very effective for the CABG patients.
- The best method to recover from bypass surgery is to
participate in a cardiac rehabilitation program.
- It is also important to attend periodic visits with an internal
medicine provider or cardiologist.