In cardiovascular surgery, especially coronary bypass operations, may need to be repeated. Taking potential consequences into account, surgeons sometimes conclude that a second operation is necessary or prefer alternative treatment methods, depending on the medical state of the patient. In taking these decisions, based on literature, knowledge and past experiences, the target is to offer a healthier life and better life quality to the patient.

There are several reasons for repeating an operation:

• The patient has had the first surgery at early ages.
• The first operation was performed for a single of double coronary disease.
• The patient has multiple vascular disease
• All arteries that needed to a bypass were not operated in the first operation
• The saphenous vein was used in the first operation
• Technical problems in the first operation

Even though, the frequency of having 2nd and 3rd operations have dropped significantly (since the problem is solved through stent placement), a patient may need to be operated for a 2nd, 3rd or even 4th time, in cases where stent placement cannot treat the disease.

At this point, the experience of the surgical team becomes crucial because repeat operations are quite different than the first ones.

Cardiac valve operations may also be repeated for a 2nd, 3rd or 4th time. Possible reasons for such need are: Dysfunction in the repaired or replaced valve, dysfunction of a valve other than the previously operated one, dysfunction of a valve following a coronary bypass operation, or where a second aneurysm on the aorta following an aortic aneurysm operation causes dysfunction of a cardiac valve.