Coronary artery bypass grafting

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (pronunciation: kuh-ROH-nuh-ree AR-tuh-ree BY-pass GRAF-ting) is a surgical procedure that improves blood flow to the heart. Surgeons use CABG to treat people who have severe coronary heart disease (CHD).

Etymology

The term "Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting" is derived from the words "coronary" (pertaining to the crown, from the Latin corona), "artery" (a vessel that carries blood from the heart to the body, from the Latin arteria), "bypass" (to avoid something by going around it, from the English bypass), and "grafting" (transplanting or implanting a portion of living tissue, from the Old Norse graft).

Procedure

In CABG, a healthy artery or vein from the body is connected, or grafted, to the blocked coronary artery. The grafted artery or vein bypasses (that is, goes around) the blocked portion of the coronary artery. This creates a new path for oxygen-rich blood to flow to the heart muscle.

Types of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

There are several types of CABG. These include:

• Traditional Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
• Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
• Minimally Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting

Related Terms

• Coronary Heart Disease
• Angina
• Heart Attack
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Atherosclerosis

See Also

• Cardiac Surgery
• Cardiology
• Heart Transplant

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