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Coronary Bypass
What is a coronary bypass?
A coronary bypass is a type of heart surgery, otherwise known as a coronary artery bypass
graft (CABG). The procedure diverts blood around clogged or narrowed arteries via new or
‘grafted’ arteries to improve the flow of blood and oxygen to the heart.
Who can benefit from a coronary bypass?
Coronary arteries can sometimes become narrowed or blocked by the formation of blood
clots, cholesterol or cell build-up. There are many circumstances where patients may need
to undergo coronary angioplasty, for example:A coronary bypass can be a life-saving
surgical procedure to help those who suffer from coronary heart disease, which may have
blocked or narrowed the coronary arteries. If the problem remains untreated, individuals
may suffer a heart attack. Other patients may include those whose heart’s major pump is
not functioning properly.
Procedure
There three main coronary bypass procedures:
Traditional coronary bypass - There are four major coronary arteries, and this
procedure may be referred to as a ‘single’, ‘double’, ‘triple’, or ‘quadruple’ bypass
depending on how many arteries are affected. It is performed under general
anesthetic and can take up to three hours per operation. An incision will be made
down the length of your breastbone in order to reach the heart. The heart is then
stopped using medication, and the blood diverted to a heart-lung bypass machine to
maintain circulation. A healthy blood vessel from another part of the body is then
removed and grafted onto the blocked artery, above and below the blockage, in
order to allow the blood to flow freely to the heart. The heart is then re-started using
electrical shocks. The sternum is closed using wires and the incision sewn up.
Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass surgery (OPCAB) - Some surgeons may
favour the OPCAB procedure where the heart continues to beat while the bypass is
completed. This method is thought to have better control over any bleeding, a