For some patients who have a coronary artery blockage, angioplasty and stent treatment in the catheterization lab are not appropriate. In those situations, heart surgery is usually recommended.
Heart bypass surgery, or coronary artery bypass grafting, is a procedure that uses veins or arteries from other parts of the body to provide new paths for blood to reach the heart. The most common vessels used in bypass surgery come from the inside of the leg (saphenous vein) or the internal mammary artery from the underside of the breastbone. This vein is used to bypass the blockage in the coronary artery, thus restoring the blood flow to the heart. In many cases, endoscopic vein harvesting, an advanced technique that involves just one or two small incisions and allows for easier recovery, less scarring and a smaller risk of infection, is appropriate.
Presbyterian Hospital has three operating suites, a six-bed intensive care unit and a 15-bed intermediate care unit dedicated to open heart surgery patients. The recovery units are staffed by critical care nurses specially trained in preoperative and postoperative care.
After Surgery
Heart bypass surgery helps relieve chest pain and may prolong life, but it does not eliminate the heart disease causing the blockages. New blockages can happen in other arteries of the heart and in the bypasses themselves. It is often recommended that patients go through a cardiac rehabilitation program, where they will learn how to pay greater attention to diet, exercise, blood pressure and cholesterol levels throughout life. Learn More
