Bypass Surgery (Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting, CABG)

Overview of Bypass Surgery

Bypass surgery, or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG, often pronounced "cabbage"), is a treatment for coronary artery disease and is one of the most commonly performed open heart surgeries. In this procedure, a vein from your leg — or an artery from your chest wall or arm — is used to bypass a coronary artery that is narrowed or blocked by fatty plaque buildup. Because a surgeon can perform several bypasses during a single surgery, CABG is often a good option for people with narrowing or blockage in several coronary arteries. CABG is also a good option for people with severe angina or severe narrowing in the left main coronary artery, or for people whose arteries have re-narrowed after cath lab procedures.

CABG surgery creates a bypass around a coronary artery that has been narrowed or blocked by plaque.

Bypass Surgery in Depth

Learn more about from Intermountain's Patient Education Library:

• Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery: What to Expect
• Heart Disease: Should I Have Bypass Surgery?

Patient Instructions

Learn what happens (and what you need to do) before, during, and after this procedure:

• Patient Handout: CABG – Preparing for the Surgery  (En Español)

Where Do I Go?

Bypass surgery is performed in the cardiovascular operating room (also called the CV OR) by a cardiothoracic surgeon and the OR team. Immediately after surgery, patients recover in the Thoracic Intensive Care Unit, a 24-bed unit directly adjacent to the cardiovascular operating room.

• Link to campus map and driving directions.

If you have questions please call us: 801-507-4701.

Learn More About Our Cardiothoracic Surgery Program