MWCS Cardiac Surgery

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

What is coronary artery bypass surgery?

This is a type of heart surgery. It's sometimes called CABG ("cabbage"). The surgery reroutes or "bypasses" blood around blocked arteries to improve the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart. These arteries are blocked by atherosclerotic plaque, a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances associated with a disease process known as atherosclerosis (or hardening of the arteries). It slows or stops blood flow through the heart's blood vessels. This can lead to loss of heart muscle, known as a myocardial infarction or heart attack.

How is coronary bypass done?

Surgeons take a blood vessel from another part of the body and make a detour around the blocked part of the coronary artery.

	An incision is made down the center of the chest, through the breast bone (mediastinotomy). Some patients may have an incision on the left side of the chest, between the ribs (thoracotomy).
	An artery may be detached from the chest wall (internal mammary artery) and the open end attached to the coronary artery below the blocked area.
	A piece of a long vein in your leg or a section of artery from your forearm may be taken. One end is sewn onto the large artery leaving your heart -- the aorta. The other end of the vein is attached or "grafted" to the coronary artery below the blocked area.
	Either way, blood can use this new path to flow freely to the heart muscle.
	Coronary bypass graft operations may require the use of the heart-lung machine (cardiopulmonary bypass) or may be amenable to minimally invasive (off-pump) techniques depending on the individual's disease.

The above information is presented for general information only. You should consult your physician personally to discuss your specific needs and how any of the above information may apply to you. Dr. Brown and Midwestern Cardiac Surgery, Inc. are not responsible for any misinterpretation or misapplication of the above information.

Send mail to mwcsinc@mwcsinc.com with questions or comments about this web site. Last modified: October 26, 2007

Send mail to mwcsinc@mwcsinc.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: October 26, 2007