Coronary artery disease, or CAD, is the most common type of heart disease and the leading cause of death in the US for both men and women.
CAD occurs when the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle become narrow and hardened. A buildup of plaque on the inside walls of the arteries, called atherosclerosis, prevents the heart from receiving the oxygen it needs and therefore can result in chest pain or a heart attack.
Over time, CAD weakens the heart muscle and can lead to heart failure and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat).
Symptoms and Causes of Coronary Artery Disease
If your coronary arteries cannot supply enough blood to your heart, you may experience signs and symptoms of the disease. These symptoms can include:
- Chest pain (angina)
- Shortness of breath
- Heart attack
- Extreme fatigue with exertion
Atherosclerosis of the coronary artery can be caused by various factors, including:
- Smoking
- Hypertension
- High cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Obesity
- High stress
- Family history of the disease
- Increasing age
Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) Procedure
One of the cardiac specialty services we provide is a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG). This surgery is sometimes necessary for patients with severe coronary artery disease (CAD). In this procedure, a healthy artery or vein is taken from the body and grafted to bypass the blocked portion of the coronary artery, creating a new path for oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle.
The CABG surgery is typically a 3-6 hour open-heart procedure performed under general anesthesia. Your surgeon will discuss their specific techniques and methods for the treatment with you.
Risks of a CABG
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Arrhythmia
- Pneumonia
- Breathing issues
- Kidney failure
- Fever and pain
- Blood clots
- Heart attack
- Stroke