Coronary Disease Surgery

Coronary disease surgery refers to a number of procedures used to treat coronary artery disease, the leading cause of death among both men and women in the United States. Coronary disease is the buildup of plaque, or fatty deposits, in the lining of the arteries that may restrict blood flow to the heart. Nearly 13 million Americans have been diagnosed with coronary artery disease.

The objective of coronary disease surgery is to increase the flow of blood to the heart. There are several kinds of coronary disease surgery.

• Coronary artery bypass graft surgery, or CABG surgery, uses a vein or blood vessel from another portion of the body to create a bypass around the blocked artery. Traditional bypass surgery is an open heart procedure where the heart is stopped and the patient connected to a heart and lung machine that pumps blood to the body during surgery.
• Transmyocardial revascularization is a coronary disease surgery reserved for patients who are not candidates for traditional bypass surgery or stents. This procedure uses a laser to create small channels in the heart muscle where blood can flow more freely.
• Coronary endarterectomy is a coronary surgery for patients with diffuse artery disease. In this procedure, the core of cholesterol material is stripped from the walls of the arteries, and the arteries are then reconstructed to promote the free flow of blood.
• Catheter-based procedures include a percutaneous coronary intervention, which opens a blockage in the coronary arteries by inflating a small balloon to flatten the obstruction. Stents are often then used to maintain the opening.

Learn more about coronary disease surgery.

Brigham and Women's hospital: state-of the art coronary disease surgery.

The latest advances in coronary disease surgery. As one of the top cardiovascular care centers in the country, Brigham and Women's Hospital provides world-class coronary disease surgery and other cardiovascular treatment in the Carl J and Ruth Shapiro Cardiovascular Center. This facility is equipped with the latest technology and staffed by some of the world's leading experts in coronary artery disease treatment. Patients at the Center receive the most advanced forms of care, delivered with the kind of compassion that can make all the difference to a patient facing challenging coronary disease treatment.

Brigham and Women's Hospital is not only in leading provider of cardiovascular care but a renowned research institution as well. From the world's first successful mitral valve repair operation to the first heart transplant performed in New England, Brigham and Women's Hospital has been leading efforts to develop new and innovative therapies for cardiovascular disease for nearly a century.

Today, in addition to traditional coronary disease surgery, we offer minimally-invasive surgery options, including key-hole surgery and robotic surgery. These procedures do not require a heart pump or open heart surgery, but access the heart through smaller incisions that allow patients to experience less pain, less scarring and faster recovery. Our surgeons also use innovations such as drug-eluting stents that include medication in the stent itself to help prevent re-narrowing of the artery after coronary angioplasty.

Learn more about coronary disease surgery and other treatments for coronary disease at Brigham and Women's Hospital.