Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) uses blood vessels from elsewhere in the body to bypass blocked coronary arteries — restoring blood flow to the heart muscle and relieving angina.
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is an open-heart surgical procedure that creates new pathways for blood to flow around significantly narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. Arteries or veins taken from the patient's own body (internal mammary artery from the chest wall, radial artery from the wrist, or saphenous vein from the leg) are used as conduits (grafts) — bypassing the obstruction and restoring blood supply to the heart muscle.
CABG is indicated for patients with severe multivessel coronary artery disease — particularly three-vessel disease or left main coronary artery disease — where evidence shows surgery improves long-term survival compared to percutaneous coronary intervention (stenting). It is also preferred in diabetic patients with multivessel disease and those with complex lesions. Korea's major cardiac centres — including large university hospitals with dedicated cardiovascular institutes — perform CABG with internationally trained cardiac surgeons and strong outcomes data.
Modern CABG is performed on cardiopulmonary bypass (the heart-lung machine takes over cardiac and pulmonary function during surgery), though off-pump CABG (on the beating heart) is used in selected patients and is a technique in which Korean cardiac centres have particular expertise. The procedure takes 3–5 hours under general anaesthesia. Hospital stay is typically 5–7 days. Comprehensive cardiac rehabilitation — beginning during the hospital stay and continuing as an outpatient programme — is essential for optimising recovery and secondary prevention. Return to driving: 4–6 weeks. Return to desk work: 6–8 weeks. Full recovery: 3–6 months.
Key Points
- CABG improves survival in severe multivessel and left main coronary disease
- Internal mammary artery graft has best long-term patency (>90% at 10 years)
- Korea's major cardiac centres perform CABG to international standards
- Hospital stay: 5–7 days; full recovery: 3–6 months
- Cardiac rehabilitation essential for optimising long-term outcomes
- Lifelong secondary prevention medications after CABG (aspirin, statin, ACE inhibitor)
When to See a Doctor
- Severe angina not controlled by medication and unsuitable for stenting
- Significant left main or three-vessel coronary artery disease on angiogram
- Unstable angina or NSTEMI with complex coronary anatomy
- Cardiologist referral to a cardiac surgical team at a major hospital
For emergencies in Korea, call 119
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This article is published by DoctorsInKorea.com for educational and informational purposes only. It does not replace a professional clinical evaluation by a licensed healthcare provider. For accurate medical diagnosis and personalised treatment paths, please book an appointment with a licensed KMA physician. For immediate life-threatening medical emergencies in Korea, please call 119.
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Last reviewed: March 1, 2025