Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or bypass heart surgery is an operation to restore normal blood flow through a blocked coronary artery. Abroad, coronary artery bypass grafting is performed to treat angina pectoris that is not controlled by anti-ischemic drugs, prevent or alleviate left ventricular dysfunction, and reduce the risk of death. There are two main approaches to this surgery:
- from the left thoracic artery, the shunt is diverted to the left anterior branch of the coronary artery;
- The large saphenous vein is removed from the leg, then one end is attached to the aorta or one of its main branches, and the other to the blocked artery (immediately after the obstruction to restore blood flow).
This operation is usually performed in case of cardiac arrest, which requires the use of artificial blood circulation. However, there are alternative methods that allow CABG to be performed while maintaining a heartbeat using partial cardiopulmonary bypass surgery.
Reasons for coronary artery bypass grafting
You can make an appointment for coronary artery bypass grafting and a preliminary examination under the following conditions.
- Severe chest pain caused by narrowing of several arteries that supply the heart muscle. Sometimes this condition can be corrected with angioplasty and stenting, but for some types of blockage, CABG is the best option.
- Several damaged coronary arteries (or the left main coronary artery is severely narrowed), and the left ventricle is not functioning well.
- Blockage of an artery for which angioplasty is not suitable (or angioplasty has already been performed, but it has had the desired effect) or stenting surgery has been performed, but the artery has narrowed again.
CABG is also performed in emergency situations such as a heart attack. The cost of coronary artery bypass grafting will depend on the patient's specific problem and the conditions of the clinic.
Coronary Artery bypass grafting procedure
The cost of coronary artery bypass grafting and other conditions are reported to the patient after the final surgery plan is approved. The entire procedure usually takes 3 to 6 hours and requires general anesthesia. The number of rounds required depends on the location and severity of the artery blockages.
Most operations are performed through a long incision in the chest. The surgeon opens the chest to open the heart, temporarily stops the heartbeat and connects a machine for artificial blood circulation. A section of a healthy blood vessel is often taken from the chest wall or leg. The implant is then attached with the ends above and below the blocked artery so that blood flow bypasses the narrowed part of the diseased vessel.
Minimally invasive coronary artery bypass grafting
In this procedure, the surgeon inserts a coronary shunt through a small incision in the chest, often using robotics and video imaging. This operation is called with port access or through a "keyhole". The cost of such coronary artery bypass grafting will be lower due to a shorter hospital stay and accelerated recovery.
