Coronary artery bypass grafting
(CABG) is more commonly known as bypass surgery. It is the most common type of heart surgery in the United States.
During this operation, a healthy blood vessel is removed from the leg or another area of the body. The healthy blood vessel is connected to a coronary artery just above and just below the blocked or partially blocked area. The attached blood vessel creates a new pathway so that the blood can move around the blocked artery. If more than one area is blocked, a bypass can be done for each area. Multiple bypasses are referred to as a double, triple, or quadruple bypass.
There are variations of this procedure.
On-Pump or Off-Pump CABG
CABG is considered open-heart surgery. On-pump surgery is done while the heart is stopped. A heart-lung machine is used to circulate blood and oxygen throughout the body while the surgeon works on the heart. The heart is restarted when the surgeon is done.
No heart-lung machine is used during off-pump CABG. The surgeon works on the heart while it is still beating. This technique is more specialized, but several studies indicate that on- and off-pump CABG have similar short- and long-term results.
Minimally Invasive Direct CABG
Another option may allow you to have a less invasive heart surgery. During this procedure, small incisions are made along the left side of the chest and between the ribs to access front-facing blood vessels. It is a fairly new off-pump procedure that may not be an option for everyone or as widely available.
Talk to your doctor about which option is better for you.
may also be referred to as a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). During this procedure, a catheter is inserted into an artery in your groin and passed through the blood vessels until it reaches the heart and the problem artery. Imaging is done throughout the procedure to monitor blood flow and the location of the catheter.
Variations of angioplasty include:
- Balloon angioplasty
—The catheter is placed in the near-blocked artery and a small balloon is quickly inflated and deflated. The quick pressure from the balloon can press the plaque on the walls of the artery to open the artery and restore blood flow. Once the blood flow has been adequately restored, the balloon and catheter are removed.
—During an angioplasty, a mesh stent may be placed in the artery to keep it open. The stent may be coated with a medication to reduce the chances of the artery renarrowing.
- Laser angioplasty
—The plaque is vaporized by a laser beam at the end of the guided catheter, which opens the artery.
—Once the blockage is reached, a shaver on the tip of the guided catheter is used to slice the plaque away.
Although these procedures may relieve symptoms, it does not cure heart disease. You still must maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes achieving a healthy weight, eating a heart healthy diet, not smoking, and taking medications.