Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat is Bypass Surgery?Benefits of Triple Bypass SurgeryWho Needs Triple Bypass Surgery?Preparing for Triple Bypass SurgerySummaryFrequently Asked QuestionsNext in Triple Bypass Surgery GuideTriple Bypass Surgery: What to Expect on the Day of Surgery

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

What is Bypass Surgery?

Benefits of Triple Bypass Surgery

Who Needs Triple Bypass Surgery?

Preparing for Triple Bypass Surgery

Summary

Frequently Asked Questions

Next in Triple Bypass Surgery Guide

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Heart surgeons during a heart operation - stock photo

Bypass surgery is a procedure in which blood vessels are taken from other areas of your body to replace diseased areas of your coronary arteries and improve blood flow. These blood vessels can be taken from your leg (saphenousvein), inside your chest (internal mammary artery), or your arm (radial artery). Your surgeon will choose which blood vessel to use as both veins and arteries can be used.

Bypass surgery is not always the first line of treatment for CAD. These alternative treatments may include coronary angioplasty (consisting of stent placement) or the use of medications (like statins). Bypass surgery is often only done when these alternative treatments may not have worked or may not have been possible based on a person’s anatomy.

Reasons for Triple Bypass Surgery

Atherosclerosis can develop in any blood vessel in the body, and when it affects arteries in the heart, it can lead to a heart attack.

Bypass surgery can restore healthy function of the heart. The benefits of surgery include:

How Common Is Bypass Surgery?Bypass surgery is the most common cardiothoracic surgical procedure with about 340,000 surgeries performed annually in the United States.

How Common Is Bypass Surgery?

Bypass surgery is the most common cardiothoracic surgical procedure with about 340,000 surgeries performed annually in the United States.

Emergency Bypass Surgery

  1. Cases of acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) with the following conditions:

  2. Instances in which a person needs surgery after a heart attack for complications such as:

  3. Cases in which a person experiencescardiogenic shock, which means the heart cannot pump enough blood and oxygen through the body

Depending on the severity of the heart disease or pain, you may have one or more tests, including:

Your doctor may use a number of tests to determine whether or not this surgery is right for you.

A Word From Verywell

7 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Lawton J, Tamis-Holland J, et al.2021 ACC/AHA/SCAI Guideline for Coronary Artery Revascularization.J Am Coll Cardiol2022;79(2): e21–e129. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2021.09.006

American Heart Association.Cardiac procedures and surgeries.

iData Research.New study shows approximately 340,000 CABG procedures per year in the United States.

van Diepen S, Katz JN, Albert NM, et al.Contemporary management of cardiogenic shock: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association.Circulation. 2017;136(16):e232-e268. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000525

Mihalj M, Carrel T, Urman RD, Stueber F, Luedi MM.Recommendations for preoperative assessment and shared decision-making in cardiac surgery.Curr Anesthesiol Rep. 2020;10(2):185-195. doi:10.1007/s40140-020-00377-7

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