Blocked Coronary Arteries

Your coronary arteries move blood into the heart so it can function. Arteries can become clogged with plaque created by fat, cholesterol, and other cell tissue, blocking blood flow to the heart.

Left untreated, this blockage can lead to heart attack or stroke. Coronary artery bypass surgery may be required to keep your heart pumping.

What Is a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)?

Blood flows in and out of the heart through the coronary arteries. If an artery is blocked, the flow is interrupted and the heart needs to work harder. Bypass surgery creates a path for blood to flow around the blockage.

In this procedure, surgeons take part of a healthy blood vessel from the arm, leg, or chest. One end of the healthy blood vessel is attached (grafted) above the blockage and another below it, allowing blood to flow.

Do I Need a CABG?

If you experience severe symptoms, your doctor may recommend a coronary artery bypass graft. This open-heart procedure can reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke. Symptoms include the following:

• Chest pain
• Tiredness (fatigue)
• A faster than normal heartbeat (tachycardia)
• An irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
• Shortness of breath
• Swollen hands or feet (edema)

Types of Arterial Grafts

Kettering Health surgeons use the latest in surgical procedures to ensure the best possible outcomes for our patients. Types of arterial grafts include the following:

• Multiple arterial graft: This is the most common type of graft procedure. It uses healthy portions of multiple arteries to reroute blood flow around a blockage. The approach offers better long-term outcomes than traditional grafting with the leg vein.
• Radial graft: This technique uses part of the radial artery in the forearm for the graft. Research has shown that using the radial artery can lead to improved blood flow (graft patency) over a longer period of time.