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SOME OBSTACLES ARE BEST OVERCOME BY GOING AROUND
them. In fact, that’s a common approach for improving the heart’s
blood supply when the obstacle in question is an artery nar-
rowed by fatty plaque.
The procedure is called bypass
surgery, also known as coronary
artery bypass grafting, or CABG
(pronounced
cabbage
). It’s some-
times a treatment option for severe
heart blockages that can lead to chest
discomfort (angina) and possibly a
heart attack.
“Our patients have the advantage
of working with a multidisciplinary
team for their revascularization,”said
Robert Burnett, M.D., with North-
west Heart and Lung. “We work
together to provide the best treat-
ment plan for each patient.”
W H O N E E D S I T ,
A N D W H Y ?
Bypass surgery can help relieve
symptoms such as angina and short-
ness of breath and reduce the risk of
heart attack.
You may be a candidate for the
surgery if you have:
•
Severe blockages in your large
coronary arteries. This may be
especially true if your heart’s
pumping action is weak.
•
Severe angina that can’t be
controlled with medicines.
•
Severe blockages that can’t be
treated with angioplasty, a less
invasive procedure for clearing
arteries.
R E R O U T I N G T H E F L O W
Coronary arteries supply the heart
with much-needed oxygen-rich
blood. However, when one ormore of
these arteries narrowdue to a buildup
of plaque, blood flow to the heart is
restricted or blocked. Bypass surgery
B Y P A S S A B L O C K E D
C O R O N A R Y A R T E R Y
Robert Burnett, M.D.
Heart Su
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