• MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute
  • Doctors
  • Appointments
  • Conditions & Treatments
  • Locations
  • Search
  • Menu
Don’t delay your care! Call 888-354-3422 to schedule a video visit with a specialist today!

Find a doctor or specialist that meet your needs

Need Help? Email [email protected]

Close Menu
    • Find a Doctor
    • Find a Location
    • Request an Appointment
 

Newsroom

For Patients

  • Conditions & Treatments
  • Programs and Services
  • Patient Resources
  • Why Choose Us
  • Ways to Give

For Medical Professionals

  • Careers
  • Educational Opportunities
  • Publications and Case Studies
  • Research
arrow_back Conditions & Treatments

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Call for an appointment or referral
888-354-3422

email Email a Question
menu Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
  • Overview
    • Conditions
    • Tests
    • Physicians
    • Locations
  • Overview arrow_forward
  • Conditions arrow_forward
  • Tests arrow_forward
  • Physicians arrow_forward
  • Locations arrow_forward

Using cutting-edge methods to divert blood flow around a diseased portion of artery

Expert Heart & Vascular Care

Getting the care you need starts with seeing one of our heart or vascular specialists.

Request an Appointment

Your doctor may recommend coronary artery bypass surgery if narrowing or blockages in one or more of your coronary arteries (coronary artery disease) reduce the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your heart. This surgery, also known as coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG, pronounced “cabbage”) restores normal blood flow by using a healthy blood vessel taken from your leg, arm or chest to create a detour around the problem area. It’s not uncommon to bypass two, three or more coronary arteries during surgery. You may have heard this called double or triple bypass.

Coronary artery bypass surgery is one of the most common heart surgeries our cardiac surgeons perform. We perform nearly half of these procedures as off-pump bypass surgery, also known as beating-heart bypass. With this method, we use special tools to stabilize a portion of the heart to allow it to keep beating while we bypass the blocked artery.

Traditionally, this surgery is performed with the assistance of a cardiopulmonary bypass machine, which temporarily takes over the function of the heart and lungs. This is known as on-pump surgery. Patients who have off-pump bypass surgery recover faster and have reduced risk for complications such as stroke, the need for blood transfusions and kidney and lung problems.

You and your doctor will discuss your unique situation to determine which form of bypass surgery will be best to return you to your normal daily activities, relieve symptoms such as shortness of breath and chest pain and lower your risk for future heart problems.

What to expect during CABG surgery

You will be given general anesthesia to put you to sleep during the surgery. Your surgeon will first remove the blood vessel to be used as a graft. Your surgeon will then make an incision in your chest to access your heart and coronary arteries. If your surgery is being performed on-pump, your heart will be stopped, and the heart-lung machine will take over circulating blood through the body. A breathing tube attached to a ventilator will breathe for you.

One end of the graft will be attached just below the diseased portion of the artery, while the other end will be attached to a tiny opening made in the aorta. This will divert the flow of blood around the blockage.

Before the chest incision is closed, you may be given a temporary pacemaker in case you experience an abnormal heart rhythm after surgery. The surgery will last three to five hours, depending on how many arteries are being bypassed. You’ll likely need to stay in the hospital for a week, and recovery can take up to 12 weeks. Taking part in cardiac rehabilitation can help you recover more safely and effectively.

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Recover faster and improve your quality of life after heart disease or treatment with help from our exercise physiologists, physical therapists and dietitians.

Learn More

Conditions

Anomalous Left Coronary Artery from the Pulmonary Artery (ALCAPA)

Anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery (ALCAPA) is a rare congenital heart disease in which the left coronary artery is connected to the pulmonary artery instead of the aorta.

Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease in the United States.

Coronary Calcification

Coronary calcification occurs when calcium builds up in the plaque found in the walls of the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart muscle.

Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction)

A heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction (MI), requires emergency medical attention. A heart attack happens when the flow of blood to the heart is blocked.

Ischemic Cardiomyopathy

Ischemic cardiomyopathy is an enlargement and weakening of the heart’s left ventricle. This decreases the heart’s ability to pump blood throughout the body.

Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD)

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection is a tear in the layers of tissue of the coronary artery. Blood can collect between these layers, causing a blockage of blood flow to the heart.

Tests

Cardiac Catheterization

Cardiac catheterization is a minimally invasive way to diagnose and treat a variety of heart and vascular conditions by guiding thin, flexible tubes called catheters through blood vessels to problem areas.

Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan

The cardiac computed tomography scan, or cardiac CT, uses X-rays to create three-dimensional images of your heart and blood vessels.

Echocardiogram

An echocardiogram uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of your heart.

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

An electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG, measures the heart’s electrical activity.

Physicians

View all arrow_forward
8 Doctors & Specialists
Dr. Ammar S. Bafi, MD
Dr. Ammar S. Bafi, MD
Valvular Disease Cardiology | Structural Heart Disease Cardiology | Cardiac Surgery
(199)
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite NW Washington, DC 20010
202-877-7464
View Profile
Request Appointment
Dr. Hiroto Kitahara, MD
Dr. Hiroto Kitahara, MD
Cardiac Surgery
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite NW Washington, DC 20010
202-877-7464
View Profile
Request Appointment
Dr. Christian Charles Shults, MD
Dr. Christian Charles Shults, MD
Valvular Disease Cardiology | Structural Heart Disease Cardiology | Cardiac Surgery
(248)
1830 SUITE 405 Reston, VA 20190
(202) 877-7464
View Profile
Request Appointment
Dr. Jeffrey E. Cohen, MD
Dr. Jeffrey E. Cohen, MD
Cardiac Surgery
110 Irving Street Northwest Suite NW Washington, DC 20010
202-877-7464
View Profile
Request Appointment
Dr. Ezequiel J. Molina, MD
Dr. Ezequiel J. Molina, MD
Cardiac Surgery
(133)
1830 SUITE 405 Reston, VA 20190
(202) 877-7464
View Profile
Request Appointment
Dr. Michael Fiocco, MD
Dr. Michael Fiocco, MD
Valvular Disease Cardiology | Structural Heart Disease Cardiology | Cardiac Surgery
(158)
3333 North Calvert Street Johnston Professional Building Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 554-6550
View Profile
Request Appointment
Dr. Brian Thomas Bethea, MD
Dr. Brian Thomas Bethea, MD
Cardiac Surgery
3333 North Calvert Street Johnston Professional Building Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 554-6550
View Profile
Request Appointment
Dr. Ricardo Orlando Quarrie, MD, MS
Dr. Ricardo Orlando Quarrie, MD, MS
Cardiac Surgery
3333 North Calvert Street Johnston Professional Building Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 554-6550
View Profile
Request Appointment
loading

Locations

View all arrow_forward
2 locations found
MedStar Union Memorial Hospital
201 East University Parkway Baltimore, MD 21218
(410) 554-2266
View Location
Get Directions
MedStar Washington Hospital Center
110 Irving Street Northwest Washington, DC 20010
202-877-7464
View Location
Get Directions
loading
Download our Cardiovascular Performance & Outcomes Booklet!
Download
  • Find a Doctor 
  • Find a Location location_on
  • Request an Appointment today
  • myMedStar lock
  • Don't Show Again Close close
     
     Don't show this to me again
     
    Top vertical_align_top   Quick Tools
     

    MEDSTARHEALTH.ORG

    Request an Appointment
    Call for an appointment or referral
    888-354-3422
    Patients & Visitors
    • Patients & Visitors
      • Doctors
      • Locations
      • Programs and Services
      • Conditions & Treatments
      • myMedStar
      • Patient Resources
      • Patient Stories
      • About Us
      • Why Choose Us
    Medical Professionals
    • Medical Professionals
      • Careers
      • Educational Opportunities
      • Resources
    Research & Resources
    • Research & Resources
      • Cleveland Clinic Alliance
      • Clinical Trials Research
      • Innovations
      • Resources
      • Research and Innovations
    Ways to Give Back
    • Give Back
    Stay Connected

    Stay Connected

    Ride With Uber | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Feedback © 2019 MEDSTAR HEALTH