Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) is a type of surgery that diverts blood around narrowed or clogged parts of the major arteries to improve blood flow to the heart. It uses a healthy blood vessel taken from the leg, arm, chest, or abdomen and connects it to the other arteries in the heart to allow the blood to bypass the diseased or blocked area. CABG is used to treat people who have severe coronary heart disease (CHD).

Signs & Symptoms of Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)

Irregular heartbeat
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Dizziness
Nausea
Sweating
Angina pain in shoulders, arms, neck, throat, and jaw

Treatment of Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)

The surgeon decides which graft procedure to use, depending on the location of the blockage, the amount of the blockage, and the size of the patient’s coronary arteries.

Traditional Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

The surgeon makes an incision to expose the heart for the operation. In the meantime, the patient is connected to a heart-lung bypass machine, that is, a cardiopulmonary bypass pump, that takes over for the heart and lungs. Hence, it is also called an on-pump procedure.

Minimally Invasive Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Also called off-pump bypass surgery or beating heart surgery, it is a surgical technique performed while the heart is still beating. The surgeon makes smaller chest and graft removal incisions and uses advanced equipment to stabilize portions of the heart and bypass the blocked artery.