Coronary bypass is a method of invasive X-ray examination of the heart vessels with a series of images. It is used for visualization of coronary vessels in order to assess their number, location and width of the lumen. It is used in the diagnosis of inflammatory, congenital and atherosclerotic stenoses, it is carried out with the ineffectiveness of conservative therapy and after vascular surgery to assess blood flow and the quality of stenting. It is performed after preliminary premedication and preparation of the access zone (more often the femoral artery). Coronary bypass requires the introduction of a contrast agent directly into the coronary arteries through a catheter.
Research methodology
Through a puncture of the femoral or radial artery with the help of a long narrow tube (catheter) connected directly to the examined shunts and coronary arteries, an X-ray contractile substance is injected, after which a number of X-ray images are taken showing the condition of the coronary shunts and arteries. Coronary bypass is most often performed from the femoral access due to the fact that the search for the mouth of the shunts from the radial access is more complicated and less effective. The operation is carried out strictly in stationary conditions.
Preparation
If the patient’s condition allows and additional preparatory measures are not required, the study can be carried out on the day of hospitalization, however, experts strongly recommend hospitalization in advance, which makes it possible to conduct preoperative observation and preparation for coronary bypass in a more relaxed environment. After placing the patient in the ward, on the day on which coronary bypass is scheduled, he is examined by the attending physician and an anesthesiologist. If the patient’s condition is satisfactory, premedication is performed and the patient is transported to the X-ray surgery room, where the coronarography procedure is performed.
After coronary bypass
After the examination, the patient is transported back to the ward, where he is under the supervision of a doctor. If the study was carried out by femoral access, then the time spent in the ward is at least 12 hours, if radiation access was used, then the observation time will be about 4-5 hours.
