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Certain drugs, especially anticoagulants like warfarin (such as Coumadin), are usually stopped before CABG surgery because they prevent the blood from clotting. If your blood is too thin, you will be at a greater risk for internal bleeding, which is a serious complication of CABG surgery. If you have another condition that makes your blood more likely to clot, you may be given a different medication than the one you usually take.

You may be asked to arrive for your surgery the night before so that doctors can monitor you. Most other medications that you normally take in the mornings should be continued up to the day of your surgery, especially if you are taking them for other medical conditions. Check with your surgeon about all medications and supplements you are currently taking.

On the day of your CABG operation, you should have only a sip of water with any medication so that you keep your stomach empty.

Diabetes

If you have diabetes, your doctors may need to adjust your medications to prepare for your CABG surgery. Since CABG surgery requires you to stop eating several hours before your procedure, your blood glucose level may drop so low that your regular medications (which lower your glucose level) may not be necessary. Talk to your doctors about the type and severity of your diabetes, as well as which medications you are taking.

General arrangements

• Arrange for transportation the day of your surgery, for someone to help you at home during your first week out of the hospital, and for someone to help with chores and errands for 1 to 2 months after your surgery. You may be too physically tired and sore after your surgery to do many things for yourself.
• Prepay any bills that will be due soon after your surgery. You will probably want to concentrate on recovering, not on everyday affairs.
• Arrange your personal matters, including a will, living will, and nursing preferences. Rarely, serious complications of CABG surgery (including death) can happen. Therefore, you should plan for this possibility and make sure that you have made your end-of-life wishes clear.

End-of-life issues

You should discuss complications of CABG surgery a few weeks beforehand with both your surgeon and your family. In particular, you may wish to clarify your desires about matters such as life support (such as a breathing tube or medications to keep you alive) and resuscitation measures (such as chest compressions and electric shock) in case of an emergency.

In addition, you may want to consider becoming an organ and tissue donor. If you are an organ and tissue donor, your liver, lungs, kidneys, and other organs can be donated to another person who needs them in case you die during your surgery. Although only a very small percentage of all CABG surgeries performed result in death, it is important to prepare in case this happens.