Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)

This surgery is performed to treat blocked or narrowed coronary arteries. It involves taking a healthy blood vessel from another part of the body and grafting it onto the blocked artery to bypass the blockage and restore blood flow to the heart.

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), also known as Heart Bypass Surgery, is a surgical procedure designed to improve blood flow to the heart. It’s performed when the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that supply the heart muscle, become narrowed or blocked.

Types of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

• CABG (Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting):
  • This is the standard open-heart surgery procedure.
  • A healthy blood vessel from another part of the body (leg, chest, or arm) is harvested and grafted onto the blocked coronary artery, creating a new pathway for blood flow.
• Cardiac Bypass:
  • This term often refers to the use of a heart-lung machine during traditional CABG.
  • The machine temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs, allowing the surgeon to operate on a still heart.
• Myocardial Revascularization:
  • This term describes the goal of CABG: to restore blood flow to the heart muscle.
  • By creating new pathways, the heart muscle receives adequate oxygen and nutrients.
• Open Heart Surgery:
  • Traditional CABG is performed as an open-heart surgery.
  • This involves opening the chest cavity and directly accessing the heart to perform the grafting.
• Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass (OPCAB):
  • This technique performs CABG without the use of a heart-lung machine.
  • The heart continues to beat during the procedure, and the surgeon uses specialized tools to stabilize the area being grafted.
• Minimally Invasive Coronary Artery Bypass (MIDCAB):
  • This approach uses smaller incisions in the chest, resulting in less trauma and faster recovery.
  • This is a less invasive form of the surgery.

Benefits of CABG:

• Relief of chest pain (angina)
• Improved quality of life
• Reduced risk of heart attack
• Increased life expectancy in certain patients

Important Considerations:

• CABG is a major surgical procedure with associated risks.
• The decision to undergo CABG should be made in consultation with a cardiologist.
• Post operative care is very important for the patient to return to normal life.  Click to see full Cardiac Surgery services.