This document discusses coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. It aims to completely revascularize the heart muscle to relieve symptoms, improve quality of life, and increase life expectancy. CABG surgery is indicated for significant stenosis of the left main coronary artery or other multi-vessel disease. The standard approach is on-pump CABG using cardiopulmonary bypass, though off-pump CABG is also performed. The left internal thoracic artery is the preferred graft for the left anterior descending artery due to its excellent long-term patency rates. Reversed saphenous veins are commonly used for other grafts but have lower patency rates over time. Patient and vessel characteristics help determine surgical candidacy and technique.

1. By:
Mohammed A Rajab
Coronary Artery Bypass
Graft (CABG)

2. Aim of CABG
• Complete revascularization of myocardium; to:
 Relieve symptoms (angina, heart failure).
 Improve quality of life.
 Increase life expectancy.

3. Anatomic Considerations
From surgical point of view, coronary system is divided into 4 parts:
1-Left main coronary artery.
2-Left anterior descending artery (LAD) (and its diagonal branches).
3-Left circumflex artery (and its marginal branches).
4-Right coronary artery (and its posterior descending branch [PDA]).

4. Anatomic Considerations, cont.
• Left main disease: A significant lesion affecting the left main coronary artery, and this
lesion affects blood flow to both left anterior descending artery and left circumflex artery.
• One-vessel disease: A significant lesion (or lesions) affecting one of the other three arteries
or one of its large branches is considered.
• Two-vessel disease and three-vessel disease: Significant lesions affecting two arteries or
three arteries, respectively.

5. Indications for CABG
1- Left main coronary artery stenosis:
Stenosis >50%, as annual mortality 10-15%.
2- Left main equivalent:
> 70% stenosis of proximal left anterior descending (LAD), and proximal
circumflex artery (PCA).

6. Indications for CABG, cont.
3- Three vessel disease particularly in diabetics.
4- One or two vessel disease with extensive myocardium at risk, & not suitable for
Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA).
5- Coronary occlusive complications during PTCA or other endovascular
interventions.
6- Surgery for life-threatening complications after acute MI, including VSD,
ventricular free-wall rupture or acute MR.

7. Techniques for CABG
• The standard approach midline sternotomy
1- On-pump CABG (traditional, conventional tech.)
Arrested heart with cardioplegia, using Cardiopulmonary Bypass .
2- Off-pump coronary artery bypass (OPCAB)
With a beating heart and without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass.

8. On-pump CABG
• Very low mortality and morbidity.
• Excellent results.
• The most widely used technique worldwide.

9. Off-pump coronary artery bypass (O
PCAB)
• Newer technique with the proposed benefit of lower
complication rates.
• Highly specialized technique with good results in the
hands of surgeons who perform this surgery regularly.

10. Choice between On & Off- pump CA
BG
• The 2 techniques seem equally effective.
SO,
The choice of the procedure should depend on the surgeon preference
performing the procedure for a particular patient.

11. Operative Issues
• Isolated proximal disease in large coronary arteries >1.0 - 1.5 mm, is ideal for
bypass surgery;
• Small, diffusely diseased coronary arteries are not suitable for bypass surgery
• Arteries with severe stenosis are bypassed, except those of small caliber < 1 mm in
diameter.

12. Operative Issues, cont.
• Left ventricular function is an important determinant of outcome of all heart
diseases
 Patients with severe LV dysfunction usually have poor prognosis.
 Patients with severe LV dysfunction and easily bypassable coronaries usually
do very well
 Patients with bad ventricles and marginally graftable coronary arteries are us
ually poor surgical candidates

13. Conduits for CABG
1- Left internal thoracic (mammary) artery (LITA, LIMA):
• Gold standard for LAD.
• excellent long term patency (90-95% at 15 years).

14. Conduits for CABG cont.
1- LIMA should always be used unless:
1) Emergency operation with hemodynamic decompensation.
2) History of chest wall radiation or radical mastectomy.
3)Proximal left subclavian artery stenosis.
4) Iatrogenic injury or hematoma during harvesting.
5) Insufficient flow due to small size or persistent spasm.

15. 2- Reversed saphenous vein grafts (SVG)
• Commonly used especially when many grafts. such as triple or quadruple bypass
are required.
• Ten-year patency is 60-70%.
• The causes of graft failure are:
 Thrombosis.
 Intimal hyperplasia.
 Graft atherosclerosis.
Conduits for CABG cont.

16. 3- Right internal thoracic (mammary) artery (RITA, RIMA)
• Used in bilateral internal thoracic (mammary) artery grafting
• Patients receiving bilateral IMAs:
 Less risk of recurrent angina, BUT with Higher rates of sternal infection,
dehiscence and mediastinitis especially in elderly, obese or diabetic patients.
Conduits for CABG cont.

17. 4-Radial artery
• Approximately 85-90% patency at 5 years.
• Prone to severe vasospasm P.O. due to muscular wall; patients
often placed on Calcium Channel Blockers.
Conduits for CABG cont.

18. 5- Right gastroepiploic artery
• Used as an in situ graft or as a free graft if no alternative suitable conduit ar
e available.
• Infrequently used due to:
 The artery is fragile.
 Small diameter at the site of distal anastomosis.
 Possibility of vessel twisting.
 Increased operative time (need laparotomy incision).
Conduits for CABG cont.