The Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) involves bypassing major blocks in the blood vessels of the heart to improve the blood supply to the cardiac muscle (myocardium). The conduits used for bypass grafting can be veins taken from the legs or arterial conduits which include the mammary arteries from the chest wall, the radial artery from the forearm and an artery from near the stomach.
Though venous conduits are commonly used; arterial conduits are far superior as they last much longer, providing relief to the patients for many more years than venous conduits.
At AHI more than 95% of all bypass operations are performed using the arterial conduits on a beating heart without the use if the heart–lung machine.
Condition Details:
Angina is a type of chest pain or discomfort caused by reduced blood flow to the heart muscle. Angina (an-JI-nuh or AN-juh-nuh) is a symptom of coronary artery disease. When your heart muscle (myocardium) doesn't get enough oxygen-rich blood, you may have chest pain. Angina is typically described as squeezing, pressure, heaviness, tightness or pain in your chest. Many people with angina say it feels like someone is standing on their chest.
Angina, also called angina pectoris (pectoris means chest), may be stable or unstable:
- Stable angina (also called chronic stable angina)
- Unstable angina (signals an impending heart attack)
A third, a rare type of angina called variant angina (also called Prinzmetal's angina) is caused by a coronary artery spasm.
Angina is relatively common. More than 6 million people in the United States have angina. Angina can be hard to distinguish from other types of chest pain, such as the pain or discomfort of indigestion. If you have unexplained chest pain, seek medical attention right away.New or different symptoms may signal a more dangerous form of angina (unstable angina) or a heart attack.
- Develops when your heart works harder, such as when you exercise or climb stairs
- Can usually be predicted and the pain is usually similar to previous types of chest pain you've had
- Lasts a short time, perhaps 5 minutes or less
- Disappears if you rest or use your angina medication
- Could feel like indigestion
- Might spread to your arms, back or other areas
- Can be triggered by mental or emotional stress
