When to Call the Doctor After Bypass Surgery
Call your care team if you have:
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A fever of 100.4˚F (38˚C) or higher, or as advised by your doctor.
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Chills.
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Sharp pain in the chest when you take a deep breath.
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Bleeding from the incision sites.
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Belly (abdominal) pain, nausea, constipation, or vomiting that doesn't go away.
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Increasing pain that doesn't get better after taking pain medicine.
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Swelling, redness, oozing, or cloudy discharge at the incision sites.
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Bruising for no known reason.
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Continued feeling of motion or clicking sounds in your breastbone.
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Sudden weight gain. (Tell your doctor if you gain 1 to 2 pounds within 24 hours or more overnight, or 5 pounds or more in 1 week.)
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More swelling of the legs, especially on the side where the vein was not removed.
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Drainage or foul-smelling odor from the incisions on the chest or leg.
Call 911
Call 911 right away if you have:
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Shortness of breath or trouble breathing not relieved by rest.
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Angina or chest pain symptoms.
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Sweating a lot for no reason.
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A sudden severe headache.
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Sudden weakness and numbness in the face, arms, or legs, or difficulty speaking.
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Dizziness or fainting spells.
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A fast heartbeat, extremely slow heartbeat, or irregular heartbeat.
Online Medical Reviewer:
Stacey Wojcik MBA BSN RN
Online Medical Reviewer:
Steven Kang MD
Date Last Reviewed:
5/1/2025
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