Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)

About Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)

Coronary artery bypass graft, commonly known as CABG or bypass surgery, is performed when one or more coronary arteries are severely narrowed or blocked and angioplasty is not suitable, often in patients with multi-vessel or complex coronary artery disease. During the operation, a cardiac surgeon takes a healthy blood vessel from elsewhere in the body, usually the internal mammary artery from the chest or a vein from the leg, and grafts it to reroute blood flow around the blocked segment. Traditional CABG is performed through an incision in the breastbone with the patient on a heart-lung bypass machine, though off-pump and minimally invasive approaches are used in selected cases. The goal is to relieve angina, reduce the risk of heart attack, and improve long-term heart function. Recovery involves several days in hospital, including time in intensive care immediately after surgery, followed by a structured period of activity restriction and cardiac rehabilitation. India's cardiac surgery programs combine experienced surgical teams with well-equipped intensive care units, and international patients typically plan for a hospital stay of about a week followed by a few weeks of local recovery before flying home, with wound checks and rehabilitation guidance provided throughout.