Coronary artery disease (blocked arteries)

Coronary artery disease is one of the most frequent causes of death. The incidence of myocardial infarct (heart attack) every year is very high.

Coronary disease is the narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, usually caused by atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis (sometimes called “hardening” or “clogging” of the arteries) is the build-up of fatty deposits (called plaques) on the inner walls of the arteries. It can cause a heart attack or symptoms like angina (chest pain), shortness of breath and tiredness, because it causes a reduced blood supply and eventually damage to the heart muscle. Several risk factors like smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, poor diet and sedentary life can produce narrowing of the heart arteries.

The most effective treatment for narrowed or blocked heart arteries is the surgical operation of Coronary Artery Bypass Graft. The aim of the operation is to restore the proper blood supply to the heart. It is made by harvesting conduits like other arteries and veins (left and right internal mammary artery from the chest, radial artery from the arm and long saphenous vein from the leg), which are then stitched onto the heart arteries beyond the blockage to improve the blood flow to the heart muscle.