Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
Source: MedlinePlus Health Topics, U.S. National Library of Medicine
What is coronary artery bypass surgery? Coronary artery bypass surgery creates a new path for blood to flow to your heart. This surgery is sometimes called a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) or heart bypass. It's the most common heart surgery in adults. You may need this surgery if you have a blocked or partially blocked artery in your heart. This surgery is often used to treat coronary artery disease (CAD). Your coronary arteries supply blood to your heart. If you have coronary artery disease, a sticky material called plaque builds up in your coronary arteries. This can cause them to harden and narrow. When this happens, some parts of your heart don't get enough blood. Before recommending surgery, your health care provider may try other treatments. These could include lifestyle changes , medicines, or angioplasty , a procedure to open your arteries. If these treatments don't help, you may need coronary artery bypass surgery. Who might benefit from coronary artery bypass surgery? Your provider may recommend surgery if you have obstructive coronary artery disease to help lower your risk of a heart attack . They will consider your overall health before deciding if surgery is your best option. You may benefit from surgery if you have: Coronary heart disease with angina (chest pain) Diabetes Multiple blocked coronary arteries Serious heart failure You might need emergency coronary artery bypass surgery to treat a severe heart attack. What happens during coronary artery bypass surgery? During surgery, the surgeon takes healthy blood vessels from another part of your body. These blood vessels are attached to blood vessels above and below the blocked artery to let blood bypass (get around) the blockage. You might need more than one bypass if you have a few blocked arteries. Methods to perform coronary artery bypass surgery include: Traditional CABG. The chest is cut open to reach the heart. A machine pumps blood through your body during the surgery. This is the most com