CABG, or Coronary Artery Bypass Graft surgery, is a surgical procedure to treat coronary artery disease by bypassing blockages in the coronary arteries.
Here's a breakdown:
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Coronary Arteries: These are the blood vessels that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle.
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Coronary Artery Disease: This develops when plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries, narrowing them and reducing blood flow to the heart.
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Bypass: CABG involves taking a healthy blood vessel from another part of the body (often the leg, arm, or chest) and using it to create a new pathway for blood to flow around the blocked artery. This is like creating a "detour" around the blockage.
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Graft: The healthy blood vessel used to create the bypass is called a graft.
In simpler terms: Imagine your heart's blood supply lines (coronary arteries) are clogged. CABG is like building new roads (using grafts) around the clogged sections to restore blood flow to your heart muscle. This restored blood flow helps alleviate symptoms like chest pain (angina) and reduces the risk of heart attack. CABG is considered when less invasive procedures are not viable options.
