Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG)

What is CABG?

A Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is an operation to bypass a narrowed or blocked segment of a coronary artery using a graft.

Usually, this graft is a length of vein taken from the leg (saphenous vein) although, often a small length of artery from the chest wall (internal mammary artery) and/or occasionally the arm is used - it is quite usual to need two, three or even four grafts.

The grafts taken from the leg and forearm are connected to the aorta at one end while the other end is attached to the coronary artery, bypassing the blockage or narrowing. If the internal mammary artery is used as a graft, it usually remains attached to its own blood supply, with its end sewn onto the coronary artery.

All grafts are sewn to the affected artery bypassing the narrowed part, thus providing a new channel which blood can flow through to the heart muscle. As a result, there will be an improvement in blood flow and relief to angina symptoms.

Benefits of surgery

CABG surgery is performed primarily to relieve angina symptoms. By improving the blood flow to the heart muscle, surgery can result in a more active and better quality of life, with less or no angina and less medication. Lifestyle changes can also help prevent a recurrence