Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery in New Jersey | Hackensack Meridian Health   

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery

What is Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery?

In coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), the surgeon uses veins and arteries from other parts of the body to create a detour or bypass around the blocked part of a coronary artery to restore the blood supply to the heart.

Who Is a Candidate for CABG?

Patients who need CABG surgery suffer from coronary artery disease (CAD), a condition where the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle become hardened and or narrowed causing a buildup of plaque on the walls of the arteries, limiting the oxygen delivered to your heart muscle. When nonsurgical and interventional cardiology treatments, such as medicines or angioplasty fail to improve severe CAD, or patients have a blockage that cannot be treated with these approaches, CABG surgery may be an option.

What to Expect

Using a variety of non-invasive cardiac tests and diagnostic cardiac catheterization procedures, our team evaluates every patient’s condition, risks and quality of life to determine the best type of CABG surgery. Each type of CABG surgery is performed under general anesthesia.

Traditional Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

With a traditional CABG surgery, the cardiovascular surgeon opens the chest bone, stops the heart with medicines and uses a heart-lung bypass machine to keep blood circulating throughout the body during the procedure.

Depending on the number of bypasses, the surgery can take three to six hours and require a day or two in intensive care and up to five days of regular hospital care. Full recovery can take six to up to 12 weeks.

Off-Pump Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

An off-pump coronary artery bypass graft is similar to the traditional approach, but instead of a heart-lung bypass machine, the cardiovascular surgeon works on the heart while it is beating. This is often called a “beating heart bypass surgery.”

Depending on the patient’s condition, the surgery can take three to six hours, but require less time in the hospital and in recovery than traditional bypass.

Robotic-Assisted CABG Surgery

Robotic-assisted CABG surgery is a minimally invasive technique also performed without a heart-lung bypass machine. Minimally invasive approaches use small incisions that do not require opening the chest bone, which often means shorter recovery time and less risk for infection.

The surgeon makes three small incisions in the chest and uses tiny, specialized instruments and 3-D imaging to perform the bypass surgery. Smaller incisions mean less trauma, allowing patients to return to regular activities within one or two weeks.

Why Choose Hackensack Meridian Health for Your Care

National Recognition

Hackensack University Medical Center is ranked among the top 50 in the nation for Cardiology & Heart Surgery by U.S. News & World Report in 2022, which earned them the status of best cardiology & heart surgery program in New Jersey. They are ranked high-performing for Heart Bypass Surgery, along with Jersey Shore University Medical Center.

Leaders in Care

The Heart & Vascular Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center was the first in the region to perform CABG.

Excellence

Jersey Shore University Medical Center has earned a distinguished three-star rating from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons for its patient care and outcomes in aortic valve replacement combined with CABG.

Better Outcomes

Jersey Shore University Medical Center and Hackensack University Medical Center are among the elite hospitals in the state that offer robotic-assisted CABG.

Patient Perspective Mark Pinelli
Patient Story

Provided with clinical expertise and unique treatment options like robotic CABG, Mark was able to make it through a serious cardiac event with minimal damage. “I always thought I was in perfect health—I’m just glad the right people were there to care for me when I needed it the most." - Mark Pinelli

Our Doctors

The combination of expert surgeons, advanced technology and array of heart care services makes Hackensack Meridian Health a trusted choice for patients and families in New Jersey.

Patient speaking with doctor
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