# How long does a triple bypass take? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 29, 2008, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-triple-bypass-take/454650 "2008-06-29T15:11:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-triple-bypass-take/454650/1 "2008-06-29T15:11:45Z")
From the time he’s wheeled into surgery until the time he’s taken to ICU? Are we talking a couple three hours or most of the day? Just another one of those questions we forgot to ask. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-triple-bypass-take/454650/2 "2008-06-29T15:42:13Z")
According to [this little information sheet](http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/119626671501548%20WhatIsCornryBypsSrgry_9-07.pdf), it should take three to six hours. ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-triple-bypass-take/454650/3 "2008-06-29T15:44:53Z")
And a few other sites say that the average bypass takes between sixty and a hundred minutes, so a triple bypass would (as the first link shows) take three to five hours. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-triple-bypass-take/454650/4 "2008-06-29T22:30:54Z")
Thanks, Speaker…although the combo of my query and your name is a little…unsettling! Seriously, though, that info from the AHA was very straightforward and helpful. Unfortunately, I’ll have more info than I’d like a week from tomorrow, starting at 8:30! ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2008, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-triple-bypass-take/454650/5 "2008-06-29T22:57:43Z")
[QUOTE=Hazle Weatherfield] Thanks, Speaker…although the combo of my query and your name is a little…unsettling! Seriously, though, that info from the AHA was very straightforward and helpful. Unfortunately, I’ll have more info than I’d like a week from tomorrow, starting at 8:30! [/QUOTE] Want some prayers said for you, **Hazle**? ---
**Author:** ![Fiveroptic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiveroptic/32/8257_2.png) [@Fiveroptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveroptic)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-triple-bypass-take/454650/6 "2008-06-30T00:37:06Z")
My mother had a triple bypass in 2003. After she was taken down my family settled into the waiting area, and two hours later we received a phone call (in the waiting area) from someone in the OR to let us know that she had just been put on the bypass machine (I guess harvesting the saphenous vein is rather time consuming.) Two hours after that she was out of surgery. Undoubtedly there are variables that can change everything but hers was pretty much textbook, and it was all done in about four hours from start to finish. Best wishes to you and yours. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-triple-bypass-take/454650/7 "2008-06-30T00:55:50Z")
I remember when my Dad had triple bypass surgery in 1981, when the surgery and the recovery time was far more intensive than it is now. He spent two weeks in the hospital and was in a very limited and weakened state while at home for a couple months afterward. He actually is defying medical predictions now, at the time the cardiologists told him his grafts would be good for somewhere around 15-20 years. Now it’s 27 years later, and aside from a minor incident (one of his arterial grafts collapsed and they put a stent in it, which is considered a radical move given the grafts have a tendency towards brittleness over time, they thought it might tear putting in the stent) he’s 67 and seems well. By contrast, in 1993, my landlady had triple bypass and was home two days later, albeit weak and in some pain. Nowadays, with modern non-intrusive surgery, I suspect the threshold for patient stays for this surgery are becoming even shorter. For at least some of these surgeries, I don’t think they even have to saw through your sternum and break your ribcage open anymore to get at the heart, which in my understanding was a major reason for the fatigue and muscle redevelopment in the chest area that led to such long rehab from this surgery in the past. ---
**Author:** ![22\_Kilometers\_East](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/6bbea6/32.png) [@22\_Kilometers\_East](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/22_Kilometers_East)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-triple-bypass-take/454650/8 "2008-06-30T06:55:31Z")
[QUOTE=I guess harvesting the saphenous vein is rather time consuming.[/QUOTE] Don’t forget you need to add time for “prep work.” The patient has to be put to sleep, the anesthesiologist needs to insert his probes and breathing tube, a urinary catheter is inserted, the chest is shaved and prepped, and both legs are shaved and prepped (in case the vein harvest does not go well in the first leg). (I had CABG x4 about 11 years ago.) I hope everything goes well! 22KE ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-triple-bypass-take/454650/9 "2008-06-30T14:49:23Z")
[QUOTE=FoieGrasIsEvil] I remember when my Dad had triple bypass surgery in 1981, when the surgery and the recovery time was far more intensive than it is now. He spent two weeks in the hospital and was in a very limited and weakened state while at home for a couple months afterward. He actually is defying medical predictions now, at the time the cardiologists told him his grafts would be good for somewhere around 15-20 years. Now it’s 27 years later, and aside from a minor incident (one of his arterial grafts collapsed and they put a stent in it, which is considered a radical move given the grafts have a tendency towards brittleness over time, they thought it might tear putting in the stent) he’s 67 and seems well. By contrast, in 1993, my landlady had triple bypass and was home two days later, albeit weak and in some pain. Nowadays, with modern non-intrusive surgery, I suspect the threshold for patient stays for this surgery are becoming even shorter. For at least some of these surgeries, I don’t think they even have to saw through your sternum and break your ribcage open anymore to get at the heart, which in my understanding was a major reason for the fatigue and muscle redevelopment in the chest area that led to such long rehab from this surgery in the past. [/QUOTE] Actually, the surgeon is breaking the sternum/ribcage; however, she refused to say the actual word and would refer to it as “dividing.” Prayers, good energy, happy thoughs always welcome and appreciated! I’m not a praying person, myself, but am a firm believer in positive anything. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-triple-bypass-take/454650/10 "2008-06-30T15:42:14Z")
Okay. Positive thoughts and prayers. ---
**Author:** ![Nars\_Glinley](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nars_glinley/32/8177_2.png) [@Nars\_Glinley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nars_Glinley)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-triple-bypass-take/454650/11 "2008-06-30T17:35:54Z")
My boss had a triple last Monday; it took all morning. He was home by Thursday and is doing fine. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-triple-bypass-take/454650/12 "2008-06-30T21:32:55Z")
[QUOTE=KRM] My boss had a triple last Monday; it took all morning. He was home by Thursday and is doing fine. [/QUOTE] This is my favorite type of thing to hear! Many thanks! ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-triple-bypass-take/454650/13 "2008-06-30T21:39:37Z")
My mother, in her early 70’s, had a quadruple bypass in 1991. She was home in under a week, IIRC, and healed up quickly. She said that before she was diagnosed, she was wondering why she tired so very easily, and that after she was healed up from the surgery, she had energy to spare. I can see why - if one’s arteries are well occluded, you’re just not getting much oxygen, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-triple-bypass-take/454650/14 "2008-06-30T22:33:12Z")
Once he’s released, is there a certain initial amount of time that he shouldn’t be left alone? I don’t want to hover or baby (which will drive him crazy and piss him off!) but I don’t want to head back to work if there’s any risk in the first day or 2. Thanks! I realize that most of these questions should and will be asked of the surgeon, but they just keep popping into my head and you all have been giving me wonderful answers. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-triple-bypass-take/454650/15 "2008-06-30T22:53:47Z")
By the way, he’s 60, we quit smoking 2/15/08, he works out 3-5 times per week, we eat healthily most of the time, he has 2-3 drinks each evening and could stand to lose 15-20 pounds. The surgeon has told us that there is no damage to his heart and that his heart muscle is very strong, so he’s got that going for him…which is good! Anyway, just some general info that I probably included in my other thread. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Fiveroptic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiveroptic/32/8257_2.png) [@Fiveroptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiveroptic)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2008, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-long-does-a-triple-bypass-take/454650/16 "2008-06-30T23:08:13Z")
You’ll be given all of this info by the staff before he’s discharged, don’t worry. But yeah, you’re going to want to take a few days off after he comes home to help him. Both of my parents had CABGs when they were in their early 70s (two years apart) and while I only came down to visit for about a week after each, they both needed a lot of assistance in the first few days. Getting up out of a chair is pretty painful, especially when you consider that you use those chest muscles for an awful lot. He’ll be given a pillow to hold against his chest when he coughs (which will be encouraged) and if he drops it, well, I sure as heck wouldn’t want to bend down to pick it up after having my sternum sawed in half. Play it by ear, but plan on giving him at least two days, maybe three.