Ask the doctor: How risky is bypass surgery?

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Ask the doctor

The risk of complications due to surgery and anesthesia is only half of the issue. You should also be asking, "How does the risk of problems from bypass surgery compare with my outlook if I use medications alone?" People with several narrowed arteries and a weakened left ventricle run a relatively high risk of complications with surgery. But they face even higher chances of trouble down the road if they don't have surgery. So most experts recommend this operation for people who fit this description.

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