Heart Bypass

Bypass surgery is the most commonly performed "open heart" operation. It is a surgical treatment for coronary artery disease (CAD), a hardening and narrowing (atherosclerosis) of the arteries that supply oxygen and nutrients to heart muscle. Just like all the other organs in your body, your heart needs blood and oxygen to do its job. Coronary arteries snake across the surface of your heart, delivering a constant supply of blood and oxygen to the heart muscle. When one or more of these arteries become narrowed or blocked, blood and oxygen are reduced and heart muscle is damaged. This condition can result in pain, pressure or discomfort (angina) and can lead to a heart attack (myocardial infarction).

The goal of bypass surgery is not to repair or remove blocked coronary arteries, but to detour blood around a blockage by using arteries or veins from other parts of the body (grafts) to bring oxygen and nutrients to heart muscle. Coronary bypass surgery uses a healthy blood vessel taken from your leg, arm, chest or abdomen and connects it to the other arteries in your heart so that blood is bypassed around the diseased or blocked area. After a coronary bypass surgery, normal blood flow is restored. Successful bypass surgery can result in a dramatic increase in blood flow to the heart muscle, reducing the symptoms of coronary artery disease. The procedure can improve a person's quality of life and prolong life, especially when combined with a healthy lifestyle.

• You have severe chest pain caused by narrowing of several of the arteries that supply your heart muscle, leaving the muscle short of blood during even light exercise or at rest. Sometimes angioplasty and stenting will bring relief in this situation, but for some types of blockages, coronary bypass surgery may be the best option.
• You have more than one diseased coronary artery and the heart's main pump — the left ventricle is not functi
• Your left main coronary artery is severely narrowed or blocked. This artery supplies most of the blood to the left ventricle.
• You have an artery blockage for which angioplasty isn't appropriate, you've had a previous angioplasty or stent placement that hasn't been successful, or you've had stent placement but the artery has narrowed again (restenosis), then your doctor may recommend coronary artery bypass surgery.