Coronary artery bypass surgery
(Redirected from Triple bypass)
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG, often pronounced "cabbage") is a common surgical procedure used to improve blood flow to the heart. It is primarily indicated for individuals with severe coronary artery disease (CAD), also known as coronary heart disease (CHD), in which a waxy substance called plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries. These arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle.
Procedure[edit | edit source]
CABG is performed by using a healthy blood vessel from another part of the body—commonly the saphenous vein from the leg, the radial artery from the arm, or the internal thoracic artery from the chest wall—to bypass blocked or narrowed segments of the coronary arteries. This newly grafted vessel creates an alternate route for blood to reach the heart muscle, thereby restoring adequate blood supply and oxygenation.
The surgery is typically done under general anesthesia, and the heart may be stopped temporarily using a cardiopulmonary bypass machine, or performed "off-pump" while the heart is still beating.
Indications[edit | edit source]
CABG is indicated in several clinical scenarios, including:
- Severe multi-vessel coronary artery disease
- Significant blockage of the left main coronary artery
- Intractable angina (chest pain) unresponsive to medical therapy
- Failed percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), such as angioplasty
- Reduced left ventricular ejection fraction with viable myocardium
- Presence of concomitant conditions such as diabetes mellitus or heart failure
Risks[edit | edit source]
Like all major surgeries, CABG carries certain risks and potential complications, including:
- Infection at the incision or graft site
- Bleeding
- Arrhythmia (especially atrial fibrillation)
- Stroke
- Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
- Kidney failure
- Lung complications or respiratory failure
The risks are elevated in patients with multiple comorbidities, advanced age, or poor baseline cardiac function.
Recovery and Rehabilitation[edit | edit source]
Recovery after CABG typically involves:
- 5 to 7 days of hospitalization, including time in an intensive care or cardiac unit
- Gradual return to daily activities over 6 to 12 weeks
- Participation in a structured cardiac rehabilitation program, including supervised exercise, dietary counseling, and education about cardiovascular risk reduction
Wound care, medication adherence, and emotional support are important parts of the recovery process.
Outcomes[edit | edit source]
CABG is highly effective in relieving symptoms of coronary artery disease, especially angina pectoris, and can improve quality of life and longevity in appropriately selected patients. Long-term success depends on:
- Lifestyle modification (smoking cessation, exercise, dietary changes)
- Control of risk factors like hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes
- Adherence to prescribed cardiac medications such as beta-blockers, statins, and antiplatelet therapy
Follow-Up Care[edit | edit source]
Post-operative follow-up includes:
- Regular visits to a cardiologist for monitoring cardiac function
- Blood tests to assess cholesterol and glucose levels
- Imaging tests such as echocardiogram or stress test if symptoms recur
- Counseling for mental health, including management of anxiety or depression, which are common after heart surgery
See also[edit | edit source]
- Coronary artery disease
- Angina
- Cardiac rehabilitation
- Heart failure
- Myocardial infarction
- Percutaneous coronary intervention
External Links[edit | edit source]
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute – CABG
- American Heart Association – CABG
- MedlinePlus – Coronary artery bypass surgery
Cardiovascular disease A-Z
Most common cardiac diseases
- Cardiac arrhythmia
- Cardiogenetic disorders
- Cardiomegaly
- Cardiomyopathy
- Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- Chronic rheumatic heart diseases
- Congenital heart defects
- Heart neoplasia
- Ischemic heart diseases
- Pericardial disorders
- Syndromes affecting the heart
- Valvular heart disease
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
A[edit source]
- Accelerated idioventricular rhythm
- Acute decompensated heart failure
- Arteriosclerotic heart disease
- Athletic heart syndrome
- Atrial flutter
- Atrioventricular fistula
- Cardiovascular disease in Australia
- Autoimmune heart disease
B[edit source]
C[edit source]
- Ebb Cade
- Cardiac allograft vasculopathy
- Cardiac amyloidosis
- Cardiac asthma
- Cardiac tamponade
- Cardiogenic shock
- Cardiogeriatrics
- Cardiorenal syndrome
- Cardiotoxicity
- Carditis
- Coronary artery aneurysm
- Coronary artery anomaly
- Coronary artery disease
- Spontaneous coronary artery dissection
- Coronary artery ectasia
- Coronary occlusion
- Coronary steal
- Coronary thrombosis
- Coronary vasospasm
- Cœur en sabot
- Coxsackievirus-induced cardiomyopathy
D[edit source]
E[edit source]
H[edit source]
- Heart attack
- Heart failure
- Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
- Heart to Heart (1949 film)
- High-output heart failure
- Hyperdynamic precordium
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
I[edit source]
- Idiopathic giant-cell myocarditis
- Interventricular dyssynchrony
- Intraventricular dyssynchrony
- Isolated atrial amyloidosis
K[edit source]
L[edit source]
M[edit source]
- Mydicar
- Myocardial bridge
- Myocardial disarray
- Myocardial rupture
- Myocardial scarring
- Myocardial stunning
- Myocarditis
N[edit source]
O[edit source]
P[edit source]
- Papillary fibroelastoma
- Pathophysiology of heart failure
- Postpericardiotomy syndrome
- Pulmonary vein stenosis
R[edit source]
S[edit source]
- Saturated fat and cardiovascular disease
- SCAR-Fc
- Shone's syndrome
- Strain pattern
- Subacute bacterial endocarditis
- Sudden cardiac death of athletes
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
T[edit source]
V[edit source]
W[edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
