Coronary artery bypass grafting

Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a type of surgery that improves blood flow to the heart. Surgeons use CABG to treat people who have severe coronary heart disease (CHD). CHD is a disease in which a waxy substance called plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries.

Procedure[edit | edit source]

CABG is one treatment for CHD. During CABG, a healthy artery or vein from the body is connected, or grafted, to the blocked coronary artery. The grafted artery or vein bypasses (that is, goes around) the blocked portion of the coronary artery. This creates a new path for oxygen-rich blood to flow to the heart muscle.

Types of CABG[edit | edit source]

There are several types of CABG. These include:

Traditional CABG
Off-pump CABG
Minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB)

Risks[edit | edit source]

As with any surgery, CABG has risks. These risks include:

Infection at the incision site
Side effects from anesthesia
Bleeding
Stroke
Heart attack
Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)

Recovery[edit | edit source]

Recovery from CABG surgery involves managing pain and taking care of the incision site. Patients are also encouraged to start moving as soon as possible after surgery to prevent complications.

Prevention[edit | edit source]

Preventing CHD is the best way to prevent the need for CABG surgery. This can be done by:

Eating a healthy diet
Exercising regularly
Not smoking
Controlling high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes

See also[edit | edit source]

Coronary artery bypass grafting Resources
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