CABG

CABG is the shortened more popular name for coronary artery bypass grafting. This surgery aims to supply the starved heart muscle with more blood by bypassing the blockages. The blood vessels from patient’s own body which he can spare are used to perform these bypasses. The internal mammary arteries supply blood to the chest wall and the breast bone. The left internal mammary artery commonly known as the LIMA is used to bypass the LAD which is the most important artery of the heart. The best results have been observed with use of this artery which makes this the surgeon’s favourite. The veins from the legs called the saphenous veins and the radial artery from the arm are also used. The surgeon studies the coronary arteries and tailors his plan of revascularisation to suit the needs of the individual patient. Once the surgeon joins up or anastamoses the grafts, blood flows through them into the blocked arteries beyond the blocks thus bypassing them. The blocks are not removed but are bypassed hence the name bypass surgery!

Coronary artery bypass grafting is the surgical procedure in which the grafts are connected up to the blocked arteries. Conventional CABG is when cardiopulmonary bypass with the heart-lung machine is used to perform the operation. The chest is opened in the middle. Access is gained to the heart. The grafts are harvested and prepared. The LIMA is dissected from behind the breastbone. The veins are harvested from the legs. The patient is placed on cardiopulmonary bypass using the heart-lung machine which does the work of the heart and the lungs during the surgery. The grafts are connected up and sutured in place. The patient is then weaned off the heart-lung machine and the wounds are closed.