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- NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia Announces State-of-the-Art, Vivian and Seymour Milstein Family Heart Center in Washington Heights
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Research and Clinical Trials
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- Advanced Diagnostics
- Alcohol Septal Ablation
- Angiograms
- Angioplasty and Stenting
- Arrhythmia Control
- Artificial Heart Devices: LVAD
- Cardiac Electrophysiologic Studies and T-wave Alternans Testing
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Cardiac Rehabilitation
- Cardiology
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Catheter Ablation for Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Echocardiograms
- Electrocardiograms (ECGs), Stress Tests, Holter Monitor and Event/Loop Recorders
- Heart Transplant Surgery
- Heart Valve Repair and Replacement
- Implantable Converter Defibrillators and Biventricular Pacing
- Intravascular / Intracoronary and Intracardiac Ultrasound
- Nuclear Imaging For Heart Disease (PET scans, MUGA scans)
- Off-pump Surgery
- Pacemakers
- Pediatric Heart Surgery
- Preventive Cardiology
- Preventive Medicine and Nutrition
- Robotic Heart Surgery
- Surgery for Adult Congenital Heart Disease
- Tilt Testing
- Transmyocardial Revascularization
- Treatment of Peripheral Arterial Disease
- Treatments for Heart Valve Disease
Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery (Grafting)
Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the most common surgical treatment for acquired heart disease. With this method, a blood vessel taken from the tissues of the chest, arms, or legs is used to route blood around blockages in the coronary arteries to restore adequate circulation of blood to the heart.
Traditional CABG
During this procedure, the surgeon makes an incision down the center of the chest and through the breastbone to gain access to the heart. The heart is temporarily stopped and the patientís blood is shunted into a heart-lung machine, which substitutes for the beating heart and lungs during surgery. Blood vessels from the chest cavity, arm, or legs are used as replacements for the diseased coronary vessel. These donor vessels can be removed safely because other blood vessels can adequately supply the part of the body from which they were taken. Following completion of the grafting procedure, the heart is stimulated electrically to re-establish its beat, the patient is taken off the heart-lung machine, and the incision in the chest is closed.
Minimally Invasive CABG
In certain cases, a patient may be a candidate for minimally invasive CABG. Using this method, a small (2-3 inch) incision is made in the tissue layer between the ribs. This method — made possible by a specialized surgical robot and a heart stabilizer developed by our surgeons — causes less chest trauma, less post-operative discomfort, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery time than traditional CABG.
In certain cases, a patient may be a candidate for minimally invasive CABG. Using this method, a small (2-3 inches) incision is made in the tissue layer between the ribs. This method is made possible by a specialized surgical robot and a heart stabilizer developed by our surgeons, and causes less chest trauma, less post-operative discomfort, shorter hospital stays, and faster recovery time than traditional CABG.
In many cases, CABG can be performed without using the heart-lung machine. For more information on this surgical option, please read the section on off-pump surgery.
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Hospital News
- NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia Announces State-of-the-Art, Vivian and Seymour Milstein Family Heart Center in Washington Heights
- NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia Sets U.S. Record for Number of Heart Transplants in One Year
- "Bad" Cholesterol May Not Be the Best Predictor of Heart Disease Risk in Generally Healthy Individuals More
