Bypass surgery, also known as Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), is a procedure to replace damaged or blocked arteries in the heart with blood vessels from another part of the body.

Patients with severe coronary artery disease, where the arteries are significantly narrowed or blocked, may need bypass surgery to improve blood flow to the heart.

A surgeon takes a healthy blood vessel from your leg, arm, or chest and connects it to the blocked coronary artery, bypassing the blocked section to improve blood flow.

Risks include infection, bleeding, heart attack, stroke, and reactions to anaesthesia, though serious complications are rare.

The surgery typically lasts between 3 to 6 hours, depending on the number of arteries being bypassed and the patient’s condition.

Recovery includes managing pain, following post-operative care instructions, and monitoring thyroid function. Most patients return to normal activities within a few weeks.

An AV fistula is a surgical connection between an artery and a vein, typically in the arm, used for hemodialysis.