Coronary artery bypass

Coronary artery bypass: Coronary artery bypass is open heart surgery to graft a piece of healthy artery from the patient's leg or inside the chest directly to the aorta, in effect bypassing an unhealthy or blocked coronary artery. A sternotomy (sternum incision) is performed, and a heart-lung machine circulates the patient's blood while the patient's heart is stopped.

Diseases And Conditions Treated: Coronary artery bypass

These diseases and conditions may be treated with the surgical procedure Coronary artery bypass:

Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries
Coronary artery disease

Non-Surgical Options: Coronary artery bypass

These non-surgical medical options may be possible alternative treatments to performing Coronary artery bypass:

Vasodilator (e.g. hydralazine)
Blood thinner (anticoagulant)
Blood pressure medication
Dietary changes
Weight loss
Lifestyle changes

Other Surgical Options: Coronary artery bypass

Surgical procedure options to consider as an alternative for Coronary artery bypass may include these surgeries:

Minimally invasive bypass surgery

Anesthetic Requirements for Coronary artery bypass

These surgical anesthetic requirements for the procedure Coronary artery bypass may include:

General anesthesia

Procedure Complications: Coronary artery bypass

Possible surgical complications of Coronary artery bypass may include:

Bleeding
Infection
Adverse reaction to anesthesia
Blood clots
Blood transfusion
Scarring

Prognosis for a Good Outcome: Coronary artery bypass

The prognosis for a good medical outcome: The prognosis is excellent. Most arterial grafts last 10 or more years.