Coronary Artery Bypass
CABG, or Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting, is a surgical procedure used to improve blood flow to the heart. It’s typically performed when coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart muscle, become narrowed or blocked due to coronary artery disease (CAD). The procedure helps restore normal blood flow by creating a new pathway, or “bypass,” for blood to reach the heart muscle.
How CABG Works
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Grafting: Surgeons take a healthy blood vessel from another part of the body, often the leg (saphenous vein), chest (internal mammary artery), or arm (radial artery).
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Bypassing: They attach this vessel to the coronary artery, just beyond the blockage, to redirect blood around the narrowed or blocked segment.
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Multiple Bypasses: If several coronary arteries are blocked, multiple bypasses may be done in a single surgery (e.g., double, triple, or quadruple bypass).
Indications and Benefits of CABG
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Severe narrowing of one or more coronary arteries.
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In cases where stenting or angioplasty isn’t suitable.
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When symptoms like chest pain (angina) and shortness of breath cannot be controlled with medication or lifestyle changes.
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In some emergency cases, like during a heart attack.
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Reduces symptoms of angina.
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Improves heart function.
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Increases the chances of survival in people with severe coronary artery disease.
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Can enhance quality of life by allowing patients to resume more normal activities.
Recovery
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Patients usually stay in the hospital for several days.
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Full recovery can take several weeks to a few months.
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Lifestyle changes, medications, and cardiac rehabilitation are essential for long-term success.