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STANDARD CORONARY ARTERY BYPASS GRAFTING (CABG)
If the blockages in the coronary arteries are extensive your cardiologist may recommend open-heart surgery. A cardiac surgeon will be consulted to evaluate the case. The surgeon will then explain the procedure and the risks involved.
Basically, this procedure consists of taking a vein (from the leg) and/or an artery from under the breastbone (internal mammary artery) and attaching them to the coronary artery distal to the area of blockage ("bypassing" the blockage). This procedure is done traditionally with a midline incision through the sternum, after stopping the heart, and placing the patient in a "cardiopulmonary bypass machine" which will pump the blood to maintain circulation while the heart is not beating. The usual hospital stay is 5 to 7 days.
For referral in St. Petersburg, please visit http://www.heartsurgery-csa.com/