Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting - CABG |
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Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), or bypass surgery,
is a surgical operation in which the surgeon uses a section of vein,
usually from the patient's leg, or an artery from inside the patient's
chest, to create a new route for oxygen-rich blood to reach the heart
muscle.
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The most commonly used vessels are the internal mammary
arteries, which are inside the chest wall, or the greater saphenous
veins, which are in the leg. These vessels are "spares." Blood
flow is usually not affected by removing them. Less often, the radial
artery in the arm may be used for a graft. Grafts usually last for
10 to 12 years. |
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Procedure |
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One end of the vein or artery is connected to the coronary
artery that is blocked or narrowed beyond the blockage or narrowed
area. The other end of the vein is connected to the aorta. Usually
the other end of the artery is left connected to the main artery from
which it branches. By creating this new conduit for blood flow to the
heart muscle, the graft is said to "bypass" the narrowed
or blocked section of the coronary artery in question. Depending on
the number and location of blockages, between one and seven bypasses
are performed.
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A heart-lung machine is used to circulate and oxygenate
the blood while the surgeon works on the stopped heart. The heart is
accessed by dividing the patient's sternum with a 10-12" long
incision on the patient's chest
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After the bypasses are complete, the heart is restarted until it
is beating normally, and the patient is removed from the heart-lung
machine. A wire sternotomy suture is used to close up the sternum,
and sutures or clips are used to close up the chest and leg wounds.
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Peter Scott - Team Leader
