Craig Said:

Can my dad get disability after having triple bypass surgery?

We Answered:

He can't qualify for unemployment as a previous answer said, because to qualify you have to have been let go from your job and be looking and available for work. He needs to go ahead and apply for social security disability. To do this, you can go to your local social security office or you can start the process by going to www.ssa.gov and clicking on the link in the center of the page that says "applying for disability". This is something he can do if he is not able to go back to work. To qualify you have to be unable to work for at least 12 months. Because of his age and past work there is a chance that he would qualify in the event he just can't go back to his job when his recovery is over.

Marsha Said:

What are the statistics of someone having severe COPD, lung disease, diabetes and triple bypass surgery?

We Answered:

First of all, good luck to you & your family...you're going through a lot right now. Remember that even when you have a family member who is sick, you need to take care of yourself, too.

Now, to answer your question: unfortunately, there isn't a good answer. As you've guessed, the more comorbidities (other problems) a patient has, the more difficult the surgery recovery. BUT...more important than having all these other conditions is how well they are controlled--a person with well controlled diabetes will do far better than a person with uncontrolled diabetes, for example.

Risks for any surgery, and especially heart surgery, are multiple. Your father's surgeon should be addressing these with him. Special consideration should be given to how easily he can come off the ventilator and his wound healing, if his diabetes is not well controlled.

A very important factor is your dad's motivation to do well with this surgery. A serious complication after heart surgery can be pneumonia, and getting up frequently and moving, as well as deep breathing and coughing (as you can imagine, not too pleasant after heart surgery) is of key importance to getting out of the hospital & doing well. If your dad isn't motivated, his prognosis just won't be as good.

As far as recovery, you can expect a TYPICAL heart surgical patient to be in the ICU for 1-2 days, then 4-5 days on a regular floor. Increasing activity a little each day, in the hospital and beyond is key.

There is no way we can say if he's better off not having the surgery. If you're not confident in the info the doc is giving you, go to another surgeon for another opinion.

Good luck.

Jeanne Said:

Cardiologists: What is the survival rate of a triple bypass surgery?

We Answered:

I am 61 years old, and had triple Bypass surgery in October, 2006. I am alive and the risk is hardly 1%, and that too in people having other problems like BP, Diabetic etc.
Nothing to worry, I am in Pakistan and care was excellent even in this part of world.
The quetion is to be asked to Heart Surgeons not Cardiologits, who are talented to insert stents to avoid Bypass surgery.

Julia Said:

What percentage of triple bypass surgery patients live beyond 5 years?

We Answered:

5 year grafts patency rate is 82% .Patients'survival is 95%
15 year grafts patency rate is 63%.Patients' survival is about 65%

These figures are from CASS (Coronary artery surgery study) and The New England Journal of Medicine 1986 ;314::1-6.

But patients can survive less if the predisposing factors persist eg. sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy habits like smoking etc. etc.

Ron Said:

Can anyone tell me what recovery is like after having a triple bypass surgery?

We Answered:

The CABG for a triple vessel block is very safe now a days. Thanks to the advanced safe developements, in the cardias anaesthesia, improved transfusion techniques, and developments in vascular surgery.etc.,.
So no need for any anxiety please.

Stacy Said:

How long does a triple bypass surgery take to complete?

We Answered:

It will take three to four hours for the surgery. I had one, and I don't think they freeze the heart, or turn the temperature down.

Ryan Said:

What is a triple bypass surgery? specifics?

We Answered:

They replace a clogged coronary artery with either an artificial one, or a donated one. Arteries are those tubes in your body that carry oxygenated blood to the tissues that need it.

Through either poor health habits (eating/exercising), poor genetics (family predisposition for getting clogged arteries), or a combination of both, these arteries may get clogged with a fatty/gooy substance (indicated for example, by high cholesterol).

They feed blood to your heart muscle tissue. When that tissue can't get blood, it dies, and your heart stops.

Getting the bypass surgery allows the blood to flow to the heart and allows it to continue to pump. The benefit is that you live.

Forgot to add... double bypass means they replaced two arteries, triple means they replaced three, and quadruple means they replaced four.