Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery, CABG, Coronary Artery Bypass Graft, New York, NY

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Cardiothoracic Surgery

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (CABG)

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Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the most common surgical treatment for acquired heart disease. With this method, a blood vessel taken from the tissues of the chest, arms, or legs is used to route blood around blockages in the coronary arteries to restore adequate circulation of blood to the heart.

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital offers two types of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgeries: traditional CABG and minimally invasive CABG.

Traditional CABG

During a traditional coronary artery bypass graft, the surgeon makes an incision down the center of the chest and through the breastbone to gain access to the heart. The heart is temporarily stopped and the patient's blood is shunted into a heart-lung machine, which substitutes for the beating heart and lungs during surgery. Blood vessels from the chest cavity, arm, or legs are used as replacements for the diseased coronary vessel. These donor vessels can be removed safely because other blood vessels can adequately supply the part of the body from which they are taken. Following completion of the grafting procedure, the heart is stimulated electrically to re-establish its beat, the patient is taken off the heart-lung machine, and the incision in the chest is closed.

Minimally Invasive CABG

In certain cases, a patient may be a candidate for minimally invasive CABG. Using this method, a small (2-3 inch) incision is made in the tissue layer between the ribs. This method—made possible by a specialized surgical robot and a heart stabilizer developed by our surgeons&mdashcauses less chest trauma, less post-operative discomfort, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery time than traditional CABG.

In certain cases, CABG can be performed without using the heart-lung machine. For more information on this surgical option, please read the section on off-pump surgery.

Last modified: 12-1-2009