Q: My 34 year old friend has undergone three successful bypass surgeries. People say that the life of the saphenous vien graft is maximum 8 years and he will again have to undergo bypass after 8 years. Kindly give details and the age of the saphenous vein graft.

A:Yes, saphenous vein grafts frequently show degenerative changes after around 8 to 10 years. It is important to take Statin group of drugs, ace inhibitors, etc along with life style modifications to prevent these problems in the long run. Regular follow up with the treating physician is important in this regard. These changes can be prevented and postponed by proper measures.