Surgical and Other Procedures for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) and Angina

If you cannot control CAD with lifestyle changes and medicine, and angina or other cardiac symptoms persist, your doctor may recommend a revascularization procedure.

Coronary Angioplasty

A coronary angioplasty is done to help clear and open arteries that have narrowed. A catheter is inserted into the artery in your groin. The catheter, which has a tiny balloon at the tip, is guided into the affected artery using x-ray images, displayed on a television monitor. Once in the artery, the balloon is quickly inflated and deflated to open the narrowed portion of the blood vessel and restore the passage of blood. Then the balloon and catheter are removed. Usually, the doctor will place a mesh "inner tube” or stent in the artery to keep it open. The stent may be coated with a medicine to reduce renarrowing of the artery.

Balloon Angioplasty

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Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)

CABG is open-heart bypass surgery done to help relieve symptoms of heart disease. However, it does not cure heart disease. You still must maintain a healthy lifestyle that includes achieving a healthy weight, eating a low-fat diet, not smoking, and taking medicines.

During this operation, a blood vessel is taken (eg, from the leg or another area of the body) and grafted into a diseased artery, bypassing the blocked area. If more than one area is blocked, a bypass can be done for each area. The blood can then go around the obstruction to supply the heart with enough oxygen-rich blood.

Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP)

Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a noninvasive procedure in which inflatable bags are wrapped around the legs (like a blood pressure cuff around the arm) and inflated and deflated in rhythm with the patient’s heart beat. This treatment may be able to decrease the symptoms of angina and improve oxygen flow.