Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery
(CABG)
Ask your doctor
Use the following questions as a tool to help you talk to your doctor about coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). Print them out and take them with you to your next appointment. Take notes to help you remember your discussion when you get home.
- Why is CABG the best treatment for me?
- What will I need to do in the weeks, hours, and days leading up to the surgery? Are there tests that I will need to undergo?
- What else can I do to prepare for the surgery so that I have a successful operation and recovery?
- Will my CABG be performed with the use of a heart-lung machine, or will it be performed while my heart is beating? What length will my chest incision be?
- How long will I be in the intensive care unit (ICU)? How long will I be in the hospital?
- Considering my history, do you have concerns about complications?
- How long until I can return to work or other normal daily activities?
- Will I be referred to a cardiac rehabilitation program?
- How will I feel after recovery is complete?
- Will I receive a stent?
- Will my arteries renarrow or become blocked again? If so, in what time period should I expect this to happen?
- What kind of care is necessary and ongoing after CABG? Do I have to keep taking medications? What kind and why?
- Can I get help with making lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, adopting a heart-healthy diet, and exercising?