Coronary artery bypass surgery for coronary artery diseaseA coronary artery is narrowed or blockedslide 1 of 5 slide 1 of 5, A coronary artery is narrowed or blocked, Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery reroutes blood around
narrowed or blocked arteries, increasing blood flow to the heart muscle tissue. The sternum is cutslide 2 of 5 slide 2 of 5, The sternum is cut, The surgeon makes a vertical incision in the skin and muscle in the
middle of the chest and then cuts through the breastbone (sternum). The heart is exposedslide 3 of 5 slide 3 of 5, The heart is exposed, The surgeon spreads the rib cage with a retractor to expose the heart
and then cuts through the lining that protects the heart (pericardium). Blood flow is reroutedslide 4 of 5 slide 4 of 5, Blood flow is rerouted, To reroute blood flow around the diseased blood vessel, surgeons
typically use a portion of the saphenous vein in the leg or an internal mammary
artery. Oxygen-rich blood flows to heart muscleslide 5 of 5 slide 5 of 5, Oxygen-rich blood flows to heart muscle, Regardless of which type of blood vessel is used, oxygen-rich blood
from the aorta is rerouted around the narrowed or blocked section of the coronary artery to
feed the heart muscle. ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerRakesh K. Pai, MD, FACC - Cardiology, Electrophysiology
Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine
E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical ReviewerDavid C. Stuesse, MD - Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery Current as ofMarch 1, 2017 Current as of:
March 1, 2017 Author:
Healthwise Staff Medical Review:
Rakesh K. Pai, MD, FACC - Cardiology, Electrophysiology & Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine & Martin J. Gabica, MD - Family Medicine & E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & David C. Stuesse, MD - Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery |
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