what is a bypass

A bypass is a medical procedure used to treat coronary artery disease, which is the narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle. The most common type of bypass is coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), also known as heart bypass surgery. During CABG, a healthy blood vessel from the chest or leg area is taken and connected below the blocked heart artery, creating a new pathway for blood to flow around the blockage and improve blood flow to the heart muscle. Other names for this surgery include coronary artery bypass graft surgery and heart bypass surgery. In some cases, more than one bypass graft may be necessary, depending on the number and location of blockages. CABG is a relatively safe and effective procedure that can reduce symptoms of coronary artery disease, such as chest pain, and may reduce the risk of heart disease-related death.