April 24, 2011

Health Promotion: Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)

People with heart disease, specifically heart disease that involves clogged arteries or atherosclerosis, may at one point undergo coronary artery bypass graft. However, many people still do not know what this surgery is about. The promotion of health through education is important, which makes dissemination of information regarding cardiac health important. Read on to know more about coronary artery bypass graft.

What does a coronary artery bypass graft do?


The goal of coronary artery bypass graft is to “revascularize” the heart. In other words, CABG aims to provide blood supply to the heart muscles by rerouting blood around coronary arterieswhich have been clogged or blocked.

Coronary artery bypass graft is done in people with coronary artery disease. Coronary artery disease is characterized by arteries which have been clogged due to fat deposition, clotting of blood, or any other mechanism.

Who should get a coronary artery bypass graft?

As coronary artery disease may involve different arteries, not everyone is an ideal candidate for coronary artery bypass graft. Recent guidelines say that CABG is indicated if a person has:

  • Left coronary artery disease
  • CAD involving all three major arteries
  • CAD that will not benefit from percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PCA)
      Note: Percutaneous coronary angioplasty is the introduction of a catheter through the skin (percutaneous) into the coronary artery to dilate the opening of a blocked artery (angioplasty). This is usually accomplished by inflating a balloon inside a clogged artery. Unfortunately, this procedure is helpful only in less serious cases of heart attack. The involvement of major arteries will necessitate a more definitive procedure like CABG.

*Alma Jones is a physician who writes during her spare time. She is also writing about ix web hosting promotion and gotomeeting coupon.

1 comments :

Chubskulit Rose said...

Thanks for the info sis. Thanks also for the comments and visits. Di ako masyado nakabloghop.. Worried sick of my BIL's surgery.