Coronary bypass surgery

Overview

Coronary bypass surgery is a treatment for coronary artery disease (CAD), a hardening and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis) that supply oxygen and nutrients to your heart.

In coronary bypass surgery, a surgeon creates a detour around a blocked artery using arteries or veins from other parts of your body (grafts). When connected to other arteries in your heart, the graft brings oxygen and nutrients to your heart.

At Mayo Clinic, surgeons who have advanced training in heart surgery (cardiac surgeons) perform coronary bypass surgery using arteries from other parts of your body, such as the internal thoracic artery, whenever possible to reduce your risk of needing another operation.

Successful coronary bypass surgery can result in:

• Increased blood flow to your heart
• Reduced symptoms of coronary artery disease
• Improved quality of life
• Prolonged life, especially when combined with a healthy lifestyle

Your risk of complications depends on your overall health before the surgery. Complications are rare but can include:

• Bleeding
• Heart rhythm abnormalities (arrhythmias)
• Kidney failure
• Chest wound infections
• Memory loss, which usually improves within six to 12 months
• Stroke

Read more about coronary artery bypass surgery.

Why choose Mayo Clinic

At Mayo Clinic, a team of medical specialists, including a cardiologist, cardiac surgeon, anesthesiologist and nurse clinician, cares for people who have heart surgery. The Mayo Clinic staff works with you, your primary care doctor and local doctors who have training in heart conditions (cardiologists) to assist with a smooth, full recovery after surgery.

Mayo Clinic cardiac surgeons use innovative surgical techniques, including minimally invasive heart surgery. These techniques may result in safer coronary bypass surgery, a shorter recovery period and the ability to safely perform surgery on older people.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., is ranked among the Best Hospitals for heart and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report. Mayo Clinic also ranks among the Best Children's Hospitals for heart and heart surgery.

Mayo Clinic: Answers you can trust

At Mayo Clinic, we assemble a team of specialists who take the time to listen and thoroughly understand your health issues and concerns. We tailor the care you receive to your personal health care needs. You can trust our specialists to collaborate and offer you the best possible outcomes, safety and service.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical institution that reinvests all earnings into improving medical practice, research and education. We're constantly involved in innovation and medical research, finding solutions to improve your care and quality of life. Your doctor or someone on your medical team is likely involved in research related to your condition.

Our patients tell us that the quality of their interactions, our attention to detail and the efficiency of their visits mean health care — and trusted answers — like they've never experienced.

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Related book: Mayo Clinic Healthy Heart for Life! book provides an easy-to-follow plan to prevent and conquer heart disease.