You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Please enable scripts and reload this page.
Turn on more accessible mode
Turn off more accessible mode
Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
Turn off Animations
Turn on Animations
CTDetailNew
It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Please turn on JavaScript and try again.
Appointment
Find a Condition or Treatment
Find a Doctor
Menu
MAIN
Back to Home
About Us
Corporate Profile
Clinical Outcomes
Newsroom
Volunteer
Calendar of Events
Contact Us
Patient Care
Conditions & Treatments
Specialties & Services
Your Clinic Visit
Your Hospital Stay
Visitor Information
E-Services
Research & Innovation
Research in SGH
Research Peaks
Enablers
Research Community
Clinical Trials
SingHealth Research
Education & Training
Undergraduate
Residency
Continuing Education
Fellowships
Conferences & Workshops
SingHealth Academy
Careers
Overview
Why Choose Us
Career Choices
Sponsorships
Job Opportunities
Giving
Overview
Why Give
Get Involved
Your Gift at Work
Make a Gift
Contact
Conditions & Treatments
Back to Home
Conditions & Treatments
Find a Medicine
Find a Doctor
Healthxchange
Specialties & Services
Back to Home
Clinical Specialties
Colorectal Surgery
Diagnostic Radiology
Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Orthopaedic Surgery
Urology
> More Specialties & Services
Centres / Services
ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) Centre
Diabetes & Metabolism Centre
Allergy Centre
Health Assessment Centre
Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) Centre
> More Centres & Services
Allied Health Professionals
Allied Health Corporate Wellness Services
Nursing
Nursing Specialties
Community Nursing in the Southeast
Your Clinic Visit
Back to Home
Planning For Your Visit
Make or change appointment
Find a Doctor
Preparing for your lab test
Preparing for your scan
During Your Consultation
Digital Medical Certificates
Phone Consult
Video Consult
Register as Caregiver
Charges & Payments
Patient Financial Services
Medisave, Medishield Life & Insurance
Payment Information
Pay Online
Outpatient Charges
Collecting Your Medication
Medication Delivery
Medication Delivery via HealthBuddy
Request A Repeat Prescription
Emergency Care
Patient Liaison Service
Refer a Patient (For GPs)
Overseas Emergency Evacuation
Health Buddy App
Your Hospital Stay
Back to Home
Preparing For Admission
Estimated Cost of Admission
Type of Wards
Financing Your Admission
What to Bring
During Your Stay
Arriving at Your Ward
Ward Facilities and Services
Daily Ward Routine
MyCare app & Bedside Tablet
Caring for You
Visitors
Going for Surgery
Pre-Admission Assessments
Going for Anaesthesia
MySurgery - Personal Assistant for Surgery
Giving Birth
Maternity and Antenatal Charges
Antenatal Classes
Labour Ward Tour
Going into Labour
Staying in the Ward
Birth Registration
For Caregivers
Discharge
Apply for Medical Report
Support Groups
Digital Medical Certificates
Visitor Information
Back to Home
Contact Us
Visiting a Patient
Getting to SGH
Shuttle Service
Wheelchair Shuttle Service
Public Bus Service
Taxi Services
Carpark & Fees
Bicycle Parking
Getting around SGH Campus
Academia
SingHealth Tower & OCH
Closure & Changes to Road Network
Directory
Public WiFi
SGH Museum
E-Services
Back to Home
Make/Change Appointment
Feedback & Compliments
Find a Doctor
Pay Online
Financial Counselling Online
Patient Financial Services
Sign-up for Medication Delivery Service
Register to visit a patient
Request for Medical Report
Home
to skip to the main content on a page
to skip to the main content on a page
About Us
Back to Home
Corporate Profile
Hospital Overview
Our Heritage
Mission & Core Values
SGH Leadership
Key Milestones
SGH Campus Masterplan
Clinical Outcomes
Our Commitment to you
Key Utilisation Statistic
Personal Data Protection Act
Whistle-blowing Policy
Newsroom
News Release
News Articles
Lighternotes
Singapore Health
Annual Reports
Media Contact
Perfectly Imperfect Health Podcast
Publications
Volunteer
Volunteer Programmes
Benefits
Testimony
Contact Community Relation
Calendar of Events
Contact Us
Patient Care
Back to Home
Conditions & Treatments
Conditions & Treatments
Find a Medicine
Find a Doctor
Healthxchange
Specialties & Services
Clinical Specialties
Centres / Services
Allied Health Professionals
Nursing
Your Clinic Visit
Planning For Your Visit
During Your Consultation
Charges & Payments
Collecting Your Medication
Emergency Care
Patient Liaison Service
Health Buddy App
Your Hospital Stay
Preparing For Admission
During Your Stay
Going for Surgery
Giving Birth
For Caregivers
Discharge
Visitor Information
Contact Us
Visiting a Patient
Getting to SGH
Getting around SGH Campus
Directory
SGH Museum
E-Services
Make/Change Appointment
Feedback & Compliments
Find a Doctor
Pay Online
Financial Counselling Online
Patient Financial Services
Sign-up for Medication Delivery Service
Register to visit a patient
Request for Medical Report
Research & Innovation
Back to Home
Research in SGH
Research & Innovation Office
Facts and Funding
Research Peaks
Ageing and Population Health
Cancer
Cardiovascular Emergencies
Diabetes and Metabolic Disorders
Immunology and Transplant
Infectious Diseases
Enablers
Biomechanics Lab
Clinical Innovation & Translation Unit
Clinical Translational Sciences
Clinical Trials and Research Centre
Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
Health Services Research
Pathological Sciences
Radiological Sciences
Research Community
Academic Clinical Programmes (ACPs)
Allied Health Research
Nursing Research
Asia-Pacific Leukemia Consortium
Clinical Trials
Participate in Clinical Trials
FertStart
SingHealth Research
Education & Training
Back to Home
Undergraduate
Undergraduate Medical Education
History
Apply for Elective Posting for Overseas Medical Students
Residency
Continuing Education
PGMI
PGAHI
IAN
Fellowships
Types of Fellowship
How to Apply?
Fees
Conferences & Workshops
Calendar of Events
SingHealth Academy
Careers
Back to Home
Overview
Why Choose Us
Employer of Choice
Fair Employment Company
Learning and Career Development
Remuneration and Benefits
SGH Work-Life
Career Choices
Doctor
Nurse
Allied Health Professionals
Management & Administration
Ancillary & Support
Researcher
Sponsorships
Educational Sponsorships
WSQ Courses (Place & Train)
Meet Our Awardees
FAQs
Job Opportunities
Giving
Back to Home
Overview
Why Give
Finding A Cure & Advancing Medical Education
Helping Our Patients
Get Involved
Sharing Your Joy with Others
Tribute to Healthcare Heroes
Create a Named Fund
Leave a Lasting Legacy
Your Gift at Work
Meet the Beneficiaries
Meet Donors Like You
Meet Our Researchers
Meet our Staff Donors
Make a Gift
Contact
Home
>
Patient Care
>
Conditions and Treatment
>
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)
>
Other Information
Facebook
WhatsApp
Email Us
share
Font Resize
A-
A
A+
Print
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) - Symptoms
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) - How to prevent?
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) - Causes and Risk Factors
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) - Diagnosis
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) - Treatments
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) - Other Information
Frequently Asked Questions
How many incisions will I have?
Generally, there will be a midline incision on the chest, with forearm and leg incisions, though this might vary depending on the extent of the surgery. Newer techniques such as the ‘key hole’ surgery are available for selected patients.
Once the wounds are dry, they can be cleansed with mild soap and will not be covered with dressing.
Can coughing and deep breathing pull apart the incision?
No, your breast-bone will be securely closed with surgical steel wire and the incision will be closed with sutures. Coughing and deep breathing will not affect the closure or healing process of your chest wound.
You may notice an occasional “clicking noise” or sensation in your chest in the first few days after surgery. This should occur less often with time and go away completely within the first few weeks. If it gets worse, consult your doctor.
How do I care for the incision?
During the healing process, you may feel sore due to the incisions and muscle spasms. It can be relieved by good posture and frequent movements of the arms and shoulders. The wound is also exposed to air, which allows it to become dry. After a few days, the wound can be cleansed with a mild soap. Do not apply any talcum powder, lotion or ointment onto your wound.
If an artery in your chest, called the mammary artery, was used during your surgery, you may experience numbness to the left of your incision. This is normal.
External stitches or staples are removed from the chest about a week after the operation and a few days later from the legs, if the stitches or staples are present. It takes about six weeks for complete healing of these wounds. It is advisable to avoid lifting heavy objects for 3 months while the wound is healing.
Leg incisions will first be cleansed with an antiseptic solution, and then with mild soap and water. There may be some tendency for the ankles to swell or the presence of a burning sensation felt when standing up. Elastic support stockings and walking will help to improve blood circulation and reduce the swelling. Avoid crossing your legs.
What is the recommended diet after the surgery?
The doctor, dietician and nursing staff will advise you on your diet. It is wise to reduce the risk factors of heart disease as much as possible by cutting down on salt, cholesterol and saturated fats in your diet. Increase your vegetables and fruits intake to prevent constipation. It is also important to keep your weight under control as extra weight will place strain on your heart.
Moderation and wise judgement are usually the best guides in maintaining a healthy diet. Refrain from drinking alcohol. Refer to diet instructions given.
What is the average length of stay for patients undergoing CABG Surgery?
Depending on the surgery and how well you have recovered, the average length of stay for patients undergoing CABG Surgery is six to eight days. However, the length of stay may vary with each individual. Patients with multiple pre-existing medical conditions may require a longer stay.
How long is the period of convalescence (or recovery) for CABG?
An uncomplicated hospital stay may last a week, whilst your surgical wounds will completely heal between six weeks to two months.
What can be done to help recovery?
Deep breathing and coughing exercises will help clear your secretions. You should use the incentive spirometer diligently and perform deep breathing exercises. The physiotherapist will assist you in coughing techniques. Taking pain medication and holding a small pillow against your chest to splint the incision will make you more comfortable when you cough. Changing positions in your bed also helps in the recovery process. Lying on your back for a long period of time causes secretions to collect in the lungs.
How long will I be off work?
It depends on the nature of your work. An office worker can return to his/her desk-job after four to six weeks. Those performing manual labour, especially work that requires upper body strength, could return to work after three months. Some may not be able to return to their former jobs.
CABG is well-established in Singapore and worldwide. It is undoubtedly the most well studied operation in the realm of surgery, and has an excellent track record of over 50 years. Furthermore, the effects of CABG last an average of 10 years which is much longer than the alternative,
coronary angioplasty
(also known as percutaneous coronary intervention, or PCI). However, the procedure has a higher risk for complications than coronary angioplasty. It also requires a longer hospital stay (one week) and longer recovery (one to two months).
Display Entire Article +
Post-Surgery Care
Tags:
Cardiothoracic Surgery,
Coronary Artery Disease / Coronary Heart Disease
Article contributed by
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
,
National Heart Centre Singapore
The information provided is not intended as medical advice.
Terms of use
. Information provided by
Our Breast Team
Filter:
By designation or sub-specialty
By Designation:
By Sub-Specialty:
TOP
[]
Related Conditions
Coronary Artery Disease / Coronary Heart Disease
View more
Related Medicine
Healthy Living Tips
by
View more
Discover articles,videos, and guides afrom Singhealth's resources across the web. These information are collated, making healthy living much easier for everyone.
Understanding Chest Pain
Super Foods Good for Your Heart
Exercises for Cardiac Patients (Sitting)
Exercises for Cardiac Patients (Standing)
Find a Doctor
Condition & Treatment
Home
Appointment
E-services