A coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is a surgical procedure used to treat coronary heart disease.
It diverts blood around narrowed or clogged parts of the major arteries (blood vessels), to improve blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart.
Every year, 28,000 CABGs are performed in the UK. Nearly 80% of those who need to have the operation are men over 60 years old.
Coronary arteries and coronary heart disease
Like all organs in the body, the heart needs a constant supply of blood. This is supplied by two large blood vessels called the left and right coronary arteries.
Over time, these arteries can become narrowed and hardened by the build-up of fatty deposits called plaques. The narrowing of the arteries is known as atherosclerosis. People with atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries are said to have coronary heart disease.
Risk factors for coronary heart disease include:
- older age
- smoking
- obesity
- a high-fat diet
Coronary heart disease can cause angina, which is chest pain that occurs when the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart becomes restricted.
While many cases of angina can be treated with medication, severe angina may require a CABG to restore the blood supply to the heart (read more about why coronary artery bypass graft is used).
Another risk associated with coronary heart disease is that one of the plaques in the coronary artery ruptures (splits), creating a blood clot. The blood clot can block the supply of blood to the heart, triggering a heart attack. So, a CABG may also be recommended for people with a high risk of having a heart attack.
The procedure
CABG involves taking a blood vessel from another part of the body, usually the chest or leg, and attaching it to the coronary artery above and below the narrowed area or blockage. This new blood vessel is known as a graft.
The graft diverts the flow of blood around the part of the coronary artery that is narrowed or blocked. Usually, the surgeon will carry out several grafts to make sure the procedure does not have to be repeated in the future. Read more about how a coronary artery bypass graft is performed.
Recovery
Recovery after your CABG will take time. Everyone recovers at slightly different speeds. As a rule of thumb, you should be able to sit in a chair after one day, walk after three days and walk upstairs after five or six days.
Read more about recovering from a CABG.
Outlook
The outlook for people having a CABG is generally good. Most people will experience a significant improvement in symptoms and their heart attack risk will be lowered. Read more about what you can expect after a CABG.
However, it is important to realise that a CABG is not a cure for coronary heart disease. If you do not make lifestyle changes such as eating a healthy diet and quitting smoking, your grafted arteries will eventually also become hardened and narrowed. Read more about the lifestyle changes you should make to reduce your risk of further coronary heart disease.
Like all types of surgery, CABG carries a risk of complications, some of which are fatal, such as a stroke or heart attack. The risks of serious complications can vary, depending on factors such as age, whether you have other serious health conditions, such as kidney disease, and the general state of your heart.
On average, less than 2% of people will die in the first 30 days after surgery. Read about the risks of a coronary artery bypass graft.
