The most common type of heart disease in the United States is coronary artery disease (CAD). It is the number one cause of death of women and men. Coronary artery disease results from cholesterol and other deposits building up along the walls of the arteries to the heart muscle. As these deposits build up, blood flow is reduced through the arteries. As a result, the heart muscle does not get enough blood and oxygen. This can result in angina or cause a myocardial infarction. If CAD is left untreated, it can eventually lead to the heart muscle becoming weak and could result in cardiac failure.
Coronary bypass surgery is sometimes the best option to restore circulatory flow to the heart muscle. This procedure diverts the flow of blood away from the blocked artery by using a blood vessel that is taken from the arm, leg, abdomen or chest and connecting it to another artery to bypass the blood flow around the damaged area. This corrects the lack of blood flow to the cardiac muscle. Coronary bypass surgery can be effective for reducing the risk of heart attack as well as reducing symptoms such as shortness of breath and angina.
Although there are other types of procedures to correct this condition such as stenting or angioplasty, the cardiovascular surgeon can determine which procedure will be the best, based on the individual's health. The surgeon may suggest coronary bypass surgery if the patient suffers from severe chest pains even while performing light duties or resting, depending on the type of blockage that is present. Coronary bypass surgery may also be a good choice if the patient's left ventricle or main pump is not working properly and there is more than one artery affected by CAD or if the main artery that supplies the left ventricle is blocked or narrowed severely. This operation may be performed when the patient has previously had a stent placement that has failed to correct the blood flow or if the artery becomes blocked again. When an individual has a heart attack and fails to respond to common treatments, a cardiovascular surgeon in Florida may elect to perform this surgery as well.
Although coronary bypass surgery can correct blood flow to the heart, it is not a cure for what caused the arteries to become blocked. Lifestyle changes must be made after the surgical treatment to prevent blockages from reoccurring. These include taking medications that lower cholesterol and hypertension as well as changing diet habits to reduce transfats and saturated fats. If overweight, steps should be taken to reduce weight and if tobacco is used, it should be stopped.
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