Coronary artery bypass grafting surgeryYour heart pumps oxygen-rich blood throughout your body. When the arteries, which carry blood to the heart muscle, become blocked with plaque (fatty deposits), your doctor may want you to have a type of heart surgery called coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery. CABG surgery is done when plaque blocks the coronary artery. Blood stops flowing through the vessels which feed the heart muscle. During bypass surgery, your surgeon will take a blood vessel, usually from your leg and/or chest wall, and use it to make another path for blood around your blocked artery to the heart muscle. By bypassing the blockage, blood is able to flow to your heart muscle. Sometimes, more than one artery needs to be bypassed. When this is done, you may hear the surgery called a double-, triple- or quadruple-bypass surgery. During heart surgeryDuring heart surgery, you will be connected to a heart-lung machine.
After heart surgeryAfter surgery, it's not unusual to hear popping and clicking in your chest, though it can be unsettling. This is part of the healing process as your bones and cartilage heal from surgery. It's very important to follow your doctor's instructions about arm movements and lifting so that your body heals properly. If you feel grating of the sternum in the middle of your chest, call your surgeon. Allina locationsExperts at these hospitals perform coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery:
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG)An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a test that records the electrical activity of the heart. |
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Source: Allina Patient Education, Helping Your Heart, fourth edition, cvs-ahc-90648
Reviewed by: Allina Patient Education experts First Published: 10/04/2002 Last Reviewed: 06/01/2007 |
