“Coronary artery bypass surgery is the most common major surgical operation in this country,” says McLeod Cardiothoracic Surgeon Scot C. Schultz, MD. “It is very, very effective in treating patients who have heart disease with fatty plaque clogging their arteries – or what some people call ‘hardening of the arteries.’”

“The coronary artery bypass surgery is designed to take arteries or veins from other places in the body and use them to bypass clogged arteries, ensuring blood reaches the heart muscle,” says Dr. Schultz. “While it is a highly effective treatment, it is often a treatment of last resort.”

“We try to treat coronary artery disease conservatively first with medications,” explains Dr. Schultz. “If medications fail, patients may be candidates for angioplasty or stenting. In those patients with extensive blockages, and in certain groups of patients, coronary artery bypass surgery is often recommended by a cardiac surgeon.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE

“While we know a lot about causes and treatments of heart disease, there is still more to learn. By controlling the major risk factors for heart disease (including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and smoking), we can probably control 80% of heart disease. I expect that five or ten years from now we’ll be talking about new treatments and breakthroughs related to heart disease and prevention.”

WHAT’S YOUR RISK?

If you’re concerned about your personal heart risk, the American Heart Association offers a heart risk calculator. You will need to know your cholesterol levels (total, LDL, HDL and triglycerides) and your blood pressure to enter in the calculator. The calculator will estimate your risk of suffering a heart attack in the next 10 years. The results may suggest you start on blood pressure control medication or offer other recommendations. You should discuss these recommendations with your personal physician or cardiologist.

You may also find these articles helpful:

Beating Heart Bypass Surgery: A Matter of Millimeters

Cardiac Catheterization: A common, successful tool

Heart Disease: #1 Killer of Women

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