What Does Coronary Bypass Surgery Mean?
Coronary bypass is a surgery that is designed to redirect the flow of blood to your heart. This surgery is performed in cases where an artery in the heart is obstructed. During coronary bypass surgery, a section of blood vessel is removed from another part of the patient's body. This section is then used to connect the healthy portions of the artery in the heart, bypassing the blocked segment.
To perform a traditional coronary bypass surgery, the patient's sternum is split, exposing the heart. During the surgery, the person's heart is stopped and blood is circulated through his or her body using a heart-lung, or bypass, machine. Recovery from coronary bypass surgery can be lengthy and may involve participation in a cardiac rehabilitation program. A less invasive procedure called a minimally invasive bypass may sometimes be available. In this procedure, small incisions are made through which the surgery is performed.
Coronary bypass surgery may also be called heart bypass surgery or coronary artery bypass surgery.