Type of open-heart surgery in which a section of a blood vessel (e.g., the saphenous vein) is grafted from the aorta onto a coronary artery in an effort to improve the blood supply to the heart by bypassing a diseased or blocked section of the coronary artery. If effective, better cardiac function and reduced angina should be expected. Depending on the location and severity of the coronary artery disease, the patient’s life expectancy may be increased, though the operation does not ensure the prevention of future myocardial infarction. Since grafts have been shown to develop atherosclerosis after several years, the patient must also control any cardiac risk factors that may be present (e.g., smoking, hypertension, diabetes, and elevated cholesterol). Angioplasty techniques have eliminated die need for some of these operations.
A surgical procedure performed to redirect blood flow around a coronary artery that has become obstructed is known as coronary artery bypass surgery. This intervention aims to establish alternative pathways for blood circulation, bypassing the blockage and restoring adequate blood supply to the heart muscle.
A significant cardiac surgery known as coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is conducted to address the narrowing or blockage of coronary arteries, usually resulting from atherosclerosis. This procedure involves utilizing additional blood vessels, such as the mammary artery or a vein from the leg, to create new pathways and improve blood flow to the heart muscle. Coronary artery bypass grafting is performed when symptoms of coronary artery disease persist despite medication or when balloon angioplasty, a procedure used to widen blocked arteries, is unsuitable or ineffective.
Prior to the surgery, areas of blockage are identified through an imaging technique called angiography. In most cases, the assistance of a heart-lung machine is required to sustain circulation during the procedure. However, in certain instances, minimally invasive surgery may be employed to bypass the affected artery, eliminating the need to halt the heartbeat.
The long-term prognosis is generally favorable after undergoing a coronary artery bypass. However, it’s important to note that the grafted blood vessels may, over time, also become susceptible to blockage due to the development of atherosclerosis.