Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Procedure for Treating Coronary Artery Disease

The experts in the Division of Cardiac Surgery at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) offer the latest procedures to effectively treat and manage heart conditions. One treatment we offer is coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).

Nationally Ranked for CABG Procedure 

CardioVascular Institute surgeons perform more than 450 CABG surgeries each year. BIDMC has earned the highest star rating for quality and safety from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons for this procedure. With this rating, we have placed in the top 15% of hospitals in the United States for CABG. You’ll benefit from our dedication to vast experience, high quality standards and good outcomes. 

How CABG Works 

CABG is open heart surgery. Your heart care team may suggest CABG if:

• You have multiple blocked coronary arteries. 
• Your blockages aren’t suitable for angioplasty or stenting. 

CABG can:

• Improve blood flow to the heart. 
• Relieve chest pain. 
• Possibly prevent a heart attack.  

Close control of blood sugar after surgery results in low rates of infection of the breastbone (sternum). 

Endoscopic Vein Harvest 

Our surgeons use endoscopic vein harvest in more than 98% of procedures. During endoscopic vein harvest, the surgeon removes a portion of vein from inside your leg through small incisions (cuts).

The surgeon then uses these veins to route blood flow around your narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. This approach significantly decreases complications and infection. 

What to Expect

CABG surgery involves exposing the heart through either the breastbone or ribs. The operation typically includes the use of a heart-lung machine, which:  

• Takes blood from the heart. 
• Adds oxygen. 
• Then pumps it back into the body. 

After the surgeon sews grafts using your harvested veins into place in the blocked arteries, we turn off the heart-lung machine. The surgeon wires together your breastbone and closes your chest. You are under general anesthesia (fully asleep) during the operation. CABG surgery takes four to five hours. 

Off-Pump and Hybrid Approaches 

The CardioVascular Institute offers expertise in off-pump beating heart surgery for those at very high risk due to: 

• Advanced renal (kidney) or pulmonary (lung) disease. 
• Heavily calcified (narrowed) aorta. 

Off-pump beating heart surgery uses techniques to stabilize the heart so that the surgical team doesn’t need to use a heart-lung machine. 

The team also can use off-pump beating heart surgery as part of a tailored approach (hybrid procedures). During this type of procedure, the surgeon performs minimally invasive off-pump surgery together with stenting.