Coronary heart ailments are rising rampantly throughout the world, causing health problems and even death in worse conditions. There are two things that the doctor can suggest for treating coronary artery disease – either bypass surgery or angioplasty. Seeing an Interventional Cardiologist or a Cardiac Surgeon is the best thing to do. Before we start panicking by just hearing the terms, it is essential to understand what they are and why they are needed. Both angioplasty and bypass surgeries are medical procedures, which are used for treating blocked or clogged arteries. These arteries are blood vessels, which help in carrying oxygenated blood from the heart to different parts of the body. However, due to the buildup of plaque on the inner walls of the arteries, they become narrow and sometimes completely clogged/blocked. The outcome is the blood flow is disturbed and sometimes completely blocked. This might lead to heart attack.

What is bypass surgery?

In bypass surgery, a new route for blood flow is created from the heart, bypassing the artery, which is already blocked. During this surgery, the cardiac surgeon uses arteries from the patient’s chest wall or takes a portion of a healthy vein from the leg. This artery or vein is attached to the heart and to a portion below the blocked artery for restoring blood flow. The blood bypasses the part of the block in the artery and reaches the heart conveniently. This is usually done when the blockage is extensive, and there is no other way to treat the blockage.

What is angioplasty?

Angioplasty, on the other hand, is a minimally-invasive treatment in which the blockage in the artery is treated by placing a stent. A stent is a minuscule metal tube. A stent is usually placed in the clogged artery for minimizing the risk of getting narrow again. A small cut is made on the arm or in the groin area, and a balloon-tipped catheter is inserted in the place of the arterial blockage. The balloon is inflated there for widening the artery and a stent is placed. This treatment is effective for single or double vessel disease.

Understanding the differences between angioplasty and bypass surgery

Since both these procedures involve the heart, understanding the differences between them is very important. Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure, and the whole procedure process will require about an hour or one and a half hours to complete. No major surgery is done in this process as only a small incision is made in the groin area, in the arm or even in the wrist. As a result, with no practical wounds to heal, the recovery time is quite quick. Just within a few days, the patient can get back to normal life and activities. However, it is very important to have regular checkups done to ensure that everything is in place. Bypass surgery, on the other hand, is considered as a major surgery. It takes almost 4-6 hours for surgeons to complete the surgery. For this surgery, the surgeon makes an 8-10 inches cut on the chest area to gain access to the heart. General anesthesia is administered to the patient so that the patient remains pain-free during the surgical procedure. Post-surgery, the patient has to stay in the ICU for some time for thorough observation. Recovery time for the patient might extend up to 3-4 months, depending on the way the patient responds to the treatment. Though angioplasty is a less-invasive and a less painful procedure, the solution is a less permanent one when compared to that of bypass surgery. Only the artery is broadened in this process, which might become narrow again and cause problems. However, in bypass surgery, a new way is made, and hence, the solution seems to be a long-lasting and effective one. Many patients who have had angioplasty done before might need bypass surgery in the future. However, in both the procedures, it is essential to follow the instructions of the doctors thoroughly, have a proper diet, and follow an exercise regimen for burning excess cholesterol and fat from the body.

How does the doctor decide for bypass surgery or angioplasty?

There are various factors to be taken into consideration when deciding whether bypass surgery or angioplasty is suitable for a patient. Some of these factors are:

• Patient’s present condition and age
• Extent and severity of the coronary artery disease
• Overall cardiac function of the patient
• Current symptoms
• Patient history of heart attack or stroke and other co-morbid factors like diabetes, hypertension, etc.

When there are multiple blockages or when the main left coronary artery is blocked, doctors think of bypass surgery and angioplasty is an option for patients who have limited or less blockages in their arteries.