Triple bypass surgery is a treatment for people who have multiple blockages in their coronary arteries, which supply blood to their heart muscle. Using a blood vessel from another part of your body, a surgeon creates a bypass route for blood to go around blocked artery sections. This allows blood to keep flowing to your heart muscle.
Triple bypass surgery reroutes blood around three blocked areas in your coronary (heart) arteries. A surgeon moves blood vessels from elsewhere in your body to your heart. This allows blood to flow through open blood vessels instead of trying to move through blocked ones.
You may hear people refer to this surgery as a coronary artery bypass graft or CABG. It’s usually an open-heart surgery.
Yes, but in very select scenarios. Some people meet the criteria for a triple bypass surgery that requires only a 3-inch cut between their ribs. Others can have a robotically assisted operation that uses a few 2-inch cuts. However, these minimally invasive techniques aren’t a good option for everyone and are only suitable for highly select people. These procedures typically don’t use a heart-lung machine, which means your heart keeps beating during the surgery. A provider can tell you which method is best for your situation.
People who have coronary artery disease may need triple bypass surgery. It’s most likely the best option for people with plaque (made up of fats and cholesterol) in three parts of their heart’s arteries. They need this operation because they have plaque blockages in their arteries that supply blood to their heart muscle. These blockages can cause chest pain, shortness of breath and heart attacks.
People need triple bypass surgery because:
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is one of the most common major surgeries. It can treat one or more blocked arteries in your heart. Triple bypass surgery is a type of CABG that involves three blocked areas.
Worldwide, an estimated 44 people per 100,000 have a bypass surgery. In the United States, 79 people per 100,000 have the surgery.
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A healthcare provider will order tests to complete before the day of surgery. These may include:
A provider will ask you to stop eating and drinking at midnight before your surgery. You’ll also need to temporarily stop taking certain medicines for several days before your operation.
On the day of your surgery, you’ll change into a hospital gown and leave your belongings with a family member. You’ll get an IV for medication that will put you to sleep for the surgery. You’ll receive a breathing tube as well.
While you’re under general anesthesia, a surgeon will:
Triple bypass surgery can take three to six hours.
You’ll have a breathing tube that goes into your mouth and throat. Most likely, you’ll only have this for up to 12 hours. Machines will keep checking your heart rate and blood pressure. You may have other tubes that drain fluids from your body or have other functions.
You’ll get medicine through an IV in your arm to help prevent blood clots. You’ll most likely need to take aspirin for the rest of your life, but you may only need to take another antiplatelet for six months.
Before long, you’ll be walking around your hospital room and hallways.
Your surgeon may recommend cardiac rehab to strengthen your heart during your triple bypass surgery recovery.
Creating alternate routes for blood to reach your heart muscle protects that muscle from damage. This improves chest pain, shortness of breath and quality of life. You also may have a better chance of survival than people who receive other types of treatment. These include medicines or angioplasty and stenting.
Triple bypass surgery is a good option for people with multiple blockages. Their cases are too complex for angioplasty and stenting to be as effective as surgery.
More than 95% of people who have a coronary bypass surgery don’t have serious complications. However, complication risks may be higher for people who have certain other health conditions or are having emergency surgery.
Complications may include:
Generally, there’s less than a 1% chance that an elective triple bypass surgery could be fatal.
Most people stay in an intensive care unit overnight and then a regular room for another three to five days. You’ll need about six weeks or more for triple bypass surgery recovery time after leaving the hospital. Some people may recover in four weeks, while others need longer. Healthcare providers encourage an early return to activities of daily living while avoiding strenuous activity. After six weeks, you may gradually start doing strenuous activity and heavy lifting.
You should be able to eat a day or two after surgery and will walk around a day or two days after your operation.
You shouldn’t drive for six weeks. If you have open-heart surgery, your breastbone is split and wired back together. It’ll take some time to heal. During this time, don’t lift things that weigh more than 10 pounds. (For reference, a gallon of milk weighs 8 pounds.)
People can live many years after a triple bypass surgery. Ten years after having a coronary artery bypass, more than 75% of people are still alive.
Taking prescribed medicines and making lifestyle changes give you a better long-term prognosis. These changes include:
Contact your provider if you have signs of infection after going home from the hospital. These signs include:
Be sure to go to all follow-up appointments with your provider after triple bypass surgery. This will help ensure that you’re healing properly and aren’t having any complications.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Because triple bypass surgery is a major surgery, finding an experienced surgeon can make you feel more at ease. Surgeons have been doing this procedure for decades. This is a trusted treatment for coronary artery disease. Be sure to ask questions about anything that isn’t clear. Knowing what to expect can give you peace of mind when you’re facing surgery.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 01/10/2023.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy