Helping Your Heart Online Manual

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Helping Your Heart
by Allina Patient Education

Allina Health services

Coronary artery bypass surgery helps more blood get to your heart.

A blood vessel, usually from your leg and/or chest wall, is used to make another path for blood around your blocked artery to the heart muscle.

You may hear the abbreviation CABG, which stands for coronary artery bypass graft.

After surgery, you may hear popping and clicking sounds in your chest. These sounds are caused by cartilage between your ribs.

If you hear this, avoid doing arm exercise and be careful with your arm movements. If you feel grating of the sternum in the middle of your chest, call your surgeon.
Wash your incision every day with a mild soap and water to help prevent infections.
Weigh yourself every day and keep a record. If you gain more than 3 pounds in one day, or 5 pounds in one week, call your doctor.

Tips for sitting and standing up from sitting:

Do not sit with your legs crossed.
Sit up straight with your knees together and your feet flat on the floor. Keep your arms relaxed.
If your leg with the incision is stiff, it will be easier to sit down by putting the incision leg slightly in front and having the back of the other knee touching the seat of the chair. Then tilt your hips forward as you bend your knees and sit on the front one-third of the chair. Scoot back into the chair.
To stand from a seated position, cross your hands across your chest or pillow. Rock back and forth a couple of times, leaning forward to come to a standing position.