Bypass Surgery and Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

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.

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