CABG Procedures -- The art of bypassing a blockage in a coronary artery of the heart.
Your heart needs blood to get the nutrients and fuel that it needs, so there is a system around the heart called the coronary arteries. These arteries are essential for bodily function, and not taking care of them will result in Heart Disease and Infarctions of the heart.
A CABG procedure is a Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting procedure. At my time at Providence Health as a shadow, I was able to observe this procedure first hand and see the process leading up to the decision to proceed with the bypass procedure. When a blockage forms in the coronary artery, it is common to have angina, or chest pain. The patients with chest pain are admitted in the ER and scheduled for a catheterization procedure in a Cath Lab. A small wire is inserted via incision through the radial or femoral arteries. The lead is sent to the heart and dye is injected while an X-Ray is scanning the thoracic region. If a blockage is detected, a stent will be placed, but if the problem persists, CABG is usually the way to go.
An incision is made to expose the thoracic region and the heart and either a saphenous vein, or mammary artery is harvested. The surgeon, or scrub nurse may wish to harvest the vein endoscopically, although thinner patients may not have the ideal amount of room for an endoscope. One the vein or artery is harvested, it is wrapped and worked on while the surgeon immobilizes the heart and prepares it for grafting. Once the heart is immobilized by suction, or a heart lung machine is attached, the vessel is sewed below the blockage, usually on the LAD or the Left Anterior Descending artery and attached to the aorta above the heart. The wounds are closed and the patient is sent to recovery, where they will remain in the hospital for 3-4 days.
While the patient was in the OR, many drugs such as lopressors to reduce blood pressure and nitroglycerin to stabilize the heart. Before the grafting the patient was administered heparin to reduce clotting, and protamine to reverse the effects of the heparin.
Remember the risk factors for heart disease, and maintain a healthy lifestyle, it might save your life one day.
Your heart needs blood to get the nutrients and fuel that it needs, so there is a system around the heart called the coronary arteries. These arteries are essential for bodily function, and not taking care of them will result in Heart Disease and Infarctions of the heart.
A CABG procedure is a Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting procedure. At my time at Providence Health as a shadow, I was able to observe this procedure first hand and see the process leading up to the decision to proceed with the bypass procedure. When a blockage forms in the coronary artery, it is common to have angina, or chest pain. The patients with chest pain are admitted in the ER and scheduled for a catheterization procedure in a Cath Lab. A small wire is inserted via incision through the radial or femoral arteries. The lead is sent to the heart and dye is injected while an X-Ray is scanning the thoracic region. If a blockage is detected, a stent will be placed, but if the problem persists, CABG is usually the way to go.
An incision is made to expose the thoracic region and the heart and either a saphenous vein, or mammary artery is harvested. The surgeon, or scrub nurse may wish to harvest the vein endoscopically, although thinner patients may not have the ideal amount of room for an endoscope. One the vein or artery is harvested, it is wrapped and worked on while the surgeon immobilizes the heart and prepares it for grafting. Once the heart is immobilized by suction, or a heart lung machine is attached, the vessel is sewed below the blockage, usually on the LAD or the Left Anterior Descending artery and attached to the aorta above the heart. The wounds are closed and the patient is sent to recovery, where they will remain in the hospital for 3-4 days.
While the patient was in the OR, many drugs such as lopressors to reduce blood pressure and nitroglycerin to stabilize the heart. Before the grafting the patient was administered heparin to reduce clotting, and protamine to reverse the effects of the heparin.
Remember the risk factors for heart disease, and maintain a healthy lifestyle, it might save your life one day.