Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the narrowing of the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) redirects blood around a section of a blocked or narrowed artery in your heart.
Conditions Treated
Coronary artery bypass grafting is a treatment option for a blocked artery to your heart, most often caused by coronary artery disease. CABG may also be performed in emergency situations, such as someone experiencing a heart attack. While it’s used to ease symptoms, coronary artery bypass grafting doesn't cure the heart disease that caused the blockages.Procedure Details
CABG involves bypassing the blocked portion of the coronary artery with a piece of a healthy blood vessel from elsewhere in your body. For most coronary bypass surgeries, a long incision is made in the chest and the heart is stopped while a heart-lung machine keeps blood and oxygen flowing through the body. A section of healthy blood vessel is taken from another part of the body, typically from inside the chest wall or the lower leg, and the ends are attached above and below the blocked artery. This redirects blood flow around the blocked or narrowed portion of the artery.What to Expect
As an open-heart surgery, CABG can be associated with potential risks or complications. These include:
- An irregular heart rhythm
- Bleeding
- Infections of the chest wound
- Memory loss or trouble thinking clearly, which often improves within six to 12 months
- Kidney problems
- Stroke
- Heart attack
Effectiveness
Most people who undergo CABG see their symptoms go away for as long as 10-15 years. However, your specific outcome will depend on certain aspects such as following doctor’s orders, taking proper medications and making healthy lifestyle changes.
Tampa General Hospital provides world-class cardiac care in the Tampa Bay area. Our team has the experience and advanced technology to perform successful coronary artery bypass grafting.