A coronary artery bypass graft is a procedure whereby we take a blood vessel from another area of the body – typically the chest, leg, or arm – and attach it to the coronary artery above and below any narrowed areas or blockages. This new blood vessel is called a graft. The number of required grafts will depend on how severe your coronary heart disease is, as well as how many of the coronary arteries are narrow. The entire surgery takes place while you're unconscious under general anesthesia, which usually lasts 3-6 hours.  

Why it's carried out

The average person will spend approximately 1 week in the hospital following a coronary artery bypass graft. You should schedule a follow-up appointment with your doctor about 2 months after your operation. Remember that recovery takes time and everyone heals at different rates, but most people are able to sit down after 1 day, walk after 3 days, and go up and down stairs by day 5 or 6. When you go home, you'll need to take things easy for a few weeks. You should be able to return to most of your normal activities after about 6 weeks, including working, driving, and having sex. If you have a heavy manual job, you may need to stay off work longer. Most people make a full recovery within 12 weeks.