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What is coronary
artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery?
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Coronary artery bypass surgery |
Coronary artery
bypass graft surgery is a form of cardiac bypass surgery in which one or more
blocked coronary arteries are bypassed by a blood vessel graft to restore
normal blood flow to the heart. These grafts usually come from the patient's
own arteries and veins located in the chest, leg, or arm. The graft goes around
the clogged artery (or arteries) to create new pathways for oxygen-rich blood
to flow to the heart.
The goals of the cardiac bypass surgery are to relieve symptoms of coronary
artery disease (including angina), enable the patient to resume a normal
lifestyle and to lower the risk of a heart attack or other heart problems.
Who is eligible to
receive coronary artery bypass graft surgery?
The decision to
prescribe medical treatment, invasive procedures or cardiac bypass surgery
depends on several factors including the extent of cardiovascular disease, the
severity of symptoms, your age and other medical conditions. The cardiologist
(heart specialist) and surgeon will determine the best method of therapy for
each patient.
What happens during
the surgery?
The surgery
generally lasts from three to five hours, depending on the number of arteries
being bypassed.
Surgical Procedure
During traditional
CABG surgery, a surgeon makes an incision down the center of the chest, cuts
through the sternum (breastbone), and retracts the ribcage to get direct access
to the heart. During surgery, the heart-lung bypass machine (called
"on-pump" surgery) is used to take over for the heart and lungs
during surgery, allowing the circulation of blood throughout the rest of the
body. The heart's beating is stopped so the surgeon can perform the bypass
procedure on a "still" heart.
- Traditional coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery
During
traditional CABG, a surgeon will make an incision down the center of your
sternum (breastbone), to get direct access to your heart. You are connected
to the heart-lung bypass machine which allows the circulation of blood
throughout the body during surgery. The heart is stopped and the surgeon then
performs the bypass procedure. After surgery, the surgeon closes the
breastbone with special sternal wires and the chest with special internal or
traditional external stitches. |
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Traditional incision |
- Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB) surgery
Your surgeon will
review your diagnostic tests prior to your surgery to see if you are a
candidate for minimally invasive bypass surgery. |
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Minimally invasive incision |
The benefits to minimally invasive bypass surgery include:
- smaller incision - smaller
scar
- shorter hospital stay - in
some cases, only 3 days are needed (instead of the average 5 - 6 days for
traditional surgery)
Other benefits may include:
- shorter recovery time
- less bleeding
- less potential for infection
- less pain and trauma
Off-pump or beating heart bypass surgery
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beating heart surgery |
Off-pump or beating
heart bypass surgery allows surgeons to perform surgery on the heart while it is
still beating. The heart-lung machine is not used. The surgeon uses advanced
operating equipment to stabilize (hold) portions of the heart and bypass the
blocked artery in a highly controlled operative environment. Meanwhile, the
rest of the heart keeps pumping and circulating blood to the body.
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