Coronary artery bypass graft surgery is a type of open-heart surgery used to treat one or more dangerous blockages in the heart arteries. If you have been recommended for, or have undergone, the surgery, it is because blockages in your heart arteries have been found to be restricting the flow of oxygenated blood to the heart. These blockages can cause symptoms such as chest pain (angina), fatigue, shortness of breath and nausea, among others. These blockages can also cause a heart attack or other damage to the heart muscle.
It is likely that you have a family member, friend or coworker who has had bypass surgery. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 395,000 coronary artery bypass graft surgeries were performed in 2010. The surgery has been performed for over 50 years, and is a well-proven treatment for serious heart disease.