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Bypass surgery and off-pump bypass surgeryBypass surgery is typically employed to treat coronary artery disease, also known as atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. Through the years, cholesterol, fat and plaque in the bloodstream attach to the walls of blood vessels. Eventually, they may narrow or completely block off the flow of blood. When this happens to the blood vessels that normally supply oxygen and nutrients to the heart, surgery may be performed to create a detour or bypass around the blocked area. Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) may help prevent angina or heart attack. [ See animation of this procedure ] During CABG, the middle of the chest is cut open and the breastbone is separated to provide access to the heart and aorta (the main artery that transports blood from the heart to the rest of the body). A vein from the leg (running from the groin to ankle on the inside of the limb) or chest (internal mammary artery) is removed and used as a graft. When sewn into the place, the graft will allow blood to bypass the blocked area of the coronary artery and provide blood to the heart. The entire process typically takes up to 6 hours and involves a foot-long chest incision. New methods are being developed to make the bypass procedure and harvesting of grafts from the body less invasive. In the case of the leg vein, for example, sometimes it can be removed through one 1/2-inch incision rather than a long incision along the entire length of the leg. Learn more | See an animation of this procedure [ Previous page ] |
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