Details.
Open heart surgical procedure performed by a cardiac surgeon to treat a narrowed or blocked coronary artery, which may be the cause of a heart attack. The procedure uses a graft or replacement artery, usually taken from the chest or forearm, to bypass blood flow around the blocked coronary artery. During the procedure, the heart is stopped and a heart-lung machine pumps blood and oxygen around the body. After surgery, there is a short stay in the Epworth Hospital intensive care unit before transfer to a ward for a few days.