|  | Conditions Treatments | Heart Disease

Risks of Coronary Artery Surgery

Angioplasty, stenting and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are the three most common types of coronary artery surgery. All are designed to restore unrestricted blood flow to the heart and carry some risk. Heart attack or stroke, during or immediately after a procedure, is always a risk.

  1. Types of Surgery

    • In CABG, a vein taken from another part of the patient's body is connected to the coronary artery and is used as a bypass mechanism. Angioplasty opens a blocked artery, typically with a balloon, while stents serve to prop open the artery permanently.

    Significance

    • The risk of a heart attack, along with the possibility of stroke during or after surgery, largely increases with age or with a history of stroke, according to The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Kidney failure is a concern, especially if that organ's function was impaired previous to any operation.

    Considerations

    • Inserting a catheter during angioplasty or stenting can occasionally cause damage to the artery, says The Radiological Society of North America. A rare complication called occlusion is the result of blood clots forming in response to stenting or angioplasty.

    Risks

    • The risks of coronary artery surgery largely depend upon factors including the patient's age, smoking history, overall health, specific medical conditions and amount of heart functionality.

    Prognosis

    • After successful surgery, an increase in energy should occur. Some individuals may require similar surgery in the future, typically 10 years or more after the initial operation. The rate of overall success will be dependent upon healthy lifestyle changes.

Heart Disease - Related Articles