As a patient, you are a part of our team. We think it is important for you to know what to expect before, during and after your surgery. We believe that when you know what to expect you will not worry as much, and you will recover better from your surgery.
CategoriesCoronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG)
Bypass grafts are placed to coronary arteries with blockages by connecting the new graft to the artery past the point of narrowing. The conduit or tubing most commonly used to perform the bypasses includes:
- The internal mammary (internal thoracic) artery: an artery attached to the inside of the front wall of the chest
- The greater saphenous vein: an accessory vein that is found on the middle side of the thigh
- The radial artery: an artery in the lower arm
Heart Valve Surgery
Valves in the heart that become stenotic (narrow) or insufficient (leaky) can be repaired or replaced. Different kinds of valves made from tissue or metal can be inserted. Your surgeon will discuss with you which type of repair or replacement your specific valve needs.
Aortic Surgery
The aorta is the large blood vessel that carries the blood from the heart to the rest of the body. When it becomes enlarged to a certain size (aneurysm), or when the wall weakens or tears in an area (dissection), that part of the aorta can be replaced. A graft is used to replace the portion of the aorta that is involved. Sometimes the aortic valve may also be involved in these diseases.
Heart Failure Surgery and Transplantation
When the muscle of the heart weakens due to various diseases (cardiomyopathy) and congestive heart failure results that no longer responds adequately to medication, a ventricular assist device (VAD) can be attached to the heart to allow the heart to recover or to act as an aid for the heart until a suitable donor is available for transplantation. In some cases the VAD acts as a permanent aid to the heart.
Adult and Pediatric Congenital Heart Surgery
Children born with heart defects of various kinds and adults who have previously had heart repair and require further surgery undergo procedures to correct these defects. These will be discussed with you on an individual basis by your surgeon.
Communication leads to better patient outcomes 
Eighty-nine percent of inpatients report that Massachusetts General Hospital staff provide thorough discharge instructions, compared with a national average of 79 percent.
