Coronary Artery Disease

Dr. Messner thoroughly evaluates each patient in order to present the best option for that person's condition.

Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) Surgery

If one or more arteries are blocked, a bypass may be required. A bypass is a heart surgery procedure (referred to as CABG) in which one or more blocked coronary arteries are bypassed by a blood vessel graft to restore normal blood flow to the heart. These grafts usually come from the patient's own arteries and veins located in the chest (thoracic), leg (saphenous) or arm (radial). The graft goes around the blocked artery (or arteries) to create new pathways for oxygen-rich blood to flow to the heart. The goals of the procedure are to relieve symptoms of coronary artery disease (including angina), enable the patient to resume a normal lifestyle and to lower the risk of a heart attack or other heart problems. Coronary artery bypass surgery is widely performed in the United States. It is estimated that more than 800,000 coronary artery bypass graft surgeries are performed worldwide every year. The American Heart Association reports that 467,000 cases of coronary artery bypass surgery were performed on 268,000 patients in the United States in 2003.

Coronary Stents

Stenting is another option for many patients with coronary artery blockages, and can often be a less invasive treatment than surgery. Each patient's anatomy must be examined to ensure the correct treatment is chosen.

Other Surgical Options

Other surgical options such as minimally invasive and off-pump techniques may also be appropriate in selected patients.