Reasons for having a coronary artery bypass graft
You may need a coronary artery bypass graft if you have coronary heart disease, where the arteries that supply blood to your heart (coronary arteries) are narrowed or blocked.
A coronary artery bypass graft might be recommended if:
- taking medicines is not enough to help with your symptoms of coronary heart disease, such as chest pain (angina)
- doctors think you're at high risk of having a heart attack
- a simpler procedure called coronary angioplasty and stent insertion is not suitable for you
You'll have a type of X-ray called an angiogram first, to check your heart and blood vessels and see what treatment is best for you.
A coronary artery bypass graft does not cure heart disease, but it helps with symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath. It also reduces the risk of a heart attack, or of having more heart attacks if you've already had one.
It may be planned or done as emergency treatment if you get severe symptoms.