Bypass surgery, specifically Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), is typically needed by individuals experiencing significant coronary artery disease where other treatments are not sufficient.
Indications for CABG
CABG is often recommended when:
- Angina not controlled by medication: You have persistent chest pain (angina) due to coronary heart disease that hasn't improved with medication or lifestyle changes.
- History of Cardiac Arrest related to arrhythmia: You have experienced a cardiac arrest linked to an irregular heartbeat, and coronary artery disease is a contributing factor.
- Diabetes: You have diabetes and significant coronary artery disease. Diabetes often leads to more complex blockages that may be better treated with bypass surgery than angioplasty.
- Heart Attack not treatable with PCI: You have had a heart attack due to coronary artery disease and the blockages are not amenable to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), also known as angioplasty with stenting.
- Significant Blockages in Multiple Arteries: You have severe blockages in multiple coronary arteries, especially the left main coronary artery.
Why CABG is Considered
CABG involves taking a healthy blood vessel from another part of your body (often the leg, arm, or chest) and using it to create a detour, or "bypass," around the blocked artery. This allows blood to flow freely to the heart muscle, relieving symptoms like chest pain and reducing the risk of heart attack.
Alternatives to CABG
It's important to note that CABG is not always the first or only option. Other treatments, like medication and PCI, may be considered first. The decision to undergo CABG is typically made after a thorough evaluation by a cardiologist and a heart surgeon, considering the severity of the coronary artery disease, the patient's overall health, and other factors.
