Coronary Artery By-pass Grafting (CABG)

• You will lie on your back on an operating table. A healthcare professional will insert an intravenous (IV) line in your arm or hand. Other catheters will be put in your neck and wrist to monitor your heart and blood pressure, as well as to take blood samples.

• The anesthesiologist will continuously monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and blood oxygen level during the surgery. Once you are sedated (put into a deep sleep), a breathing tube will be put into your throat and you will be connected to a ventilator, which will breathe for you during the surgery.

• A catheter will be put into your bladder to drain urine. The skin over the surgical site will be cleaned with an antiseptic solution.

• Once all the tubes and monitors are in place, your doctor will make incisions (cuts) in one or both of your legs or one of your wrists to access the blood vessel(s) to be used for the grafts. He or she will remove the vessel(s) and close those incision(s).

• The doctor will make an incision (cut) down the centre of your chest from just below Adam’s apple to just above the navel. The doctor will cut the sternum (breastbone) in half lengthwise. He or she will separate the halves of the breastbone and spread them apart to expose your heart.

After the surgery, you may be taken to the intensive care unit (ICU) to be closely monitored. Machines will constantly display your electrocardiogram (ECG) tracing, blood pressure, other pressure readings, breathing rate, and your oxygen level. Coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) requires an in-hospital stay of at least several days.