Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting - Who May Benefit - Who May Benefit

People who have certain conditions may benefit from CABG, such as those who have obstructive coronary artery disease, a type of ischemic heart disease. Obstructive coronary artery disease occurs when plaque builds up in the coronary arteries that supply the heart with oxygen-rich blood.

Your heart care team will work with you to decide if CABG is right for you. Your team includes your heart doctor, called a cardiologist, and a cardiothoracic surgeon, who specializes in heart, lung, and chest surgeries.

During an emergency, such as a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest, CABG or another procedure may be performed with consent from a heart care team. If it is not an emergency, the team will evaluate your symptoms, medical history, the severity of your condition, your overall health, and how treatment will help you. The team will also consider your preferences after discussing the risks and benefits of CABG with you and your family.

Image of coronary artery disease before and after heart bypass surgery.
Image of coronary artery disease before and after heart bypass surgery. The image on the left shows the heart before CABG. The gray region shows decreased blood flow due to coronary artery disease. The image on the right shows two grafts after a CABG procedure. One graft, shown in blue, is a vein that was taken from the leg, and the other, shown in red, is an artery that came from the chest. For each graft, one side connects to a coronary artery and the other side connects to a large artery that supplies blood to parts of the heart. These grafts bypass the blocked arteries and restore blood flow to the heart. Medical Illustration Copyright © 2019 Nucleus Medical Media, All rights reserved.