Introduction :
CABG surgery is a procedure where blood vessels are taken (artery from the chest/vein from the arm or leg) and used to bypass blockages in the coronary arteries. The blood vessels are sewn using fine, non-absorbable sutures, to the coronary artery beyond the blockage. This diverts blood flow to the normal path, hence the term ‘bypass’.
How Is it performed?
CABG surgery is traditionally performed by splitting the central chest bone (the sternum), and stopping the heart. The heart is stopped by connecting the patient to a Heart-Lung bypass machine. This procedure enables open access to the heart and sewing of the blood vessels to fine coronary arteries. Patients also have long cuts in the leg, to harvest the long saphenous vein. Recent advances enable performing CABG, without stopping the heart (beating heart surgery) and without the splitting of the central chest bone or long cuts in the leg (Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery).
Who Is It For?
- Patients with multiple blockages ( diffuse, triple vessel disease)
- Diabetic patients · Patients with blockages in the left main coronary artery
- Patients with poor to moderate heart function
- Patients with recurrent blockages after previous stent insertion
- Syntax core > 22 ( complex, long segment blockages)
Advantages:
1. Longer durability due to the usage of arteries from the chest wall (Internal Mammary Artery)
Disadvantages:
1. Traditional CABG has a longer recovery
2. Patients can take up to 3 months to resume full normal activity
