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

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

There are several types of CABG. These include:

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

Risks

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

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

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

• Coronary heart disease
• Heart surgery
• Plaque

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