The most common artery used for CABG
surgery is the left Internal Mammary artery.
This artery runs along both the left side and
right side of your breast bone. As long as it is a
healthy artery, this vessel will almost always
be used for your surgery. The surgeon will
remove this artery after the breastbone is
opened so you will not have any additional
incisions. Unless you have had a problem with
blood flow with this area in the past, there are
no tests needed to check this artery before surgery.
The radial artery is an artery in your forearm and can also be used for this surgery. If your
surgeon plans to use the radial artery, tests will be done to make sure that your hand will stay
healthy without this artery.
HOW DO YOU GET THE NEW VESSELS ONTO MY HEART?
To perform a CABG procedure the most common approach
is to make an incision in the chest. The breast bone
(sternum) is then divided exposing the heart. The heart is
stopped to keep it still for the time it takes to perform the
bypasses.
MY HEART IS STOPPED?
The Heart Lung Machine- Cardiopulmonary Bypass
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