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Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Center - Birmingham, AL

Birmingham Cardiothoracic Surgeon Doctors for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

Type of Physician: Cardiothoracic Surgeon

What is a Cardiothoracic Surgeon?

A certification by the Board of Thoracic Surgery; practitioners are skilled in patient care before, during and after surgery, and the critical care of patients with pathologic conditions within the chest. The management of the airway and injuries of the chest is within the scope of the specialty.

Specialty: Cardiothoracic Surgery

Common Name: Chest Surgeon

Cardiothoracic Surgeon Doctors in Birmingham *

Robert J Cerfolio MD
Robert J Cerfolio
70319 St South
STE STE zrb739
Birmingham, AL 35294
(205) 934-5937

Norwood Clinic Cardiac Surgery
Constantine L Athanasuleas
1528 Carraway Blvd
Birmingham, AL 35234
(205) 250-6036

James K Kirklin & David McGiffin MDs
James K Kirklin
1900 University Blvd
STE THT760
Birmingham, AL 35294
(205) 934-3368

James K Kirklin & David McGiffin MDs
David C McGiffin
1900 University Blvd
STE THT760
Birmingham, AL 35294
(205) 934-3368

Thoracic Cardiac & Vascular Surgery of Alabama PC
Arthur M James
817 Princeton Ave SW
STE 300
Birmingham, AL 35211
(205) 780-8980

Thoracic Cardiac & Vascular Surgery of Alabama PC
Christopher R Jones
817 Princeton Ave SW
STE 300
Birmingham, AL 35211
(205) 780-8980

Thoracic Cardiac & Vascular Surgery of Alabama PC
Gregory A Thomas
817 Princeton Ave SW
STE 300
Birmingham, AL 35211
(205) 780-8980

Thoracic Cardiac & Vascular Surgery of Alabama PC
L Shefton Riggins
817 Princeton Ave SW
STE 300
Birmingham, AL 35211
(205) 780-8980

Cardiovascular Surgical Associates
Edward R Ferguson
815 Riverbend Dr
Gadsden, AL 35901
(256) 456-0226

Huntsville Cardiac Anesthesia, P.C.
Richard L Clay
201 Sivley Rd SW
STE STE 300
Huntsville, AL 35801
(256) 536-5594

Huntsville Cardiac Anesthesia, P.C.
Evan S Cohen
201 Sivley Rd SW
STE STE 300
Huntsville, AL 35801
(256) 536-5594

Huntsville Cardiac Anesthesia, P.C.
Charles G Newton
201 Sivley Rd SW
STE STE 300
Huntsville, AL 35801
(256) 536-5594

Huntsville Cardiac Anesthesia, P.C.
Thomas B Washburn
201 Sivley Rd SW
STE STE 300
Huntsville, AL 35801
(256) 536-5594

Kwan Stephen MD
Stephen K Kwan
1758 Park Pl
STE 202
Montgomery, AL 36106
(334) 264-7156

Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham is the largest city in the state of Alabama in the United States. It is the county seat of Jefferson County and includes part of Shelby County. Over the course of the 20th century, the city's economy diversified. Though the manufacturing industry maintains a strong presence in Birmingham, other industries such as banking, insurance, medicine, publishing, and biotechnology have risen in stature. Birmingham has been recognized as one of the top cities for income growth in the United States South with a significant increase in per capita income since 1990. Today, Birmingham ranks as one of the most important business centers in the Southeastern United States and is also one of the largest banking centers in the U.S. In addition, the Birmingham area serves as headquarters to one Fortune 500 company: Regions Financial. Five Fortune 1000 companies are headquartered in Birmingham.
(Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham,_Alabama)

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Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

What is coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery?

According to the American Heart Association 427,000 coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgeries were performed in the United States in 2004, making it one of the most commonly performed major operations. CABG surgery is advised for selected groups of patients with significant narrowings and blockages of the heart arteries (coronary artery disease). CABG surgery creates new routes around narrowed and blocked arteries, allowing sufficient blood flow to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle.

How does coronary artery disease develop?

Coronary artery disease (CAD) occurs when atherosclerotic plaque (hardening of the arteries) builds up in the wall of the arteries that supply the heart. This plaque is primarily made of cholesterol. Plaque accumulation can be accelerated by smoking, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, and diabetes. Patients are also at higher risk for plaque development if they are older (greater than 45 years for men and 55 years for women), or if they have a positive family history for early heart artery disease.

The atherosclerotic process causes significant narrowing in one or more coronary arteries. When coronary arteries narrow more than 50 to 70%, the blood supply beyond the plaque becomes inadequate to meet the increased oxygen demand during exercise. The heart muscle in the territory of these arteries becomes starved of oxygen (ischemic). Patients often experience chest pain (angina) when the blood oxygen supply cannot keep up with demand. Up to 25% of patients experience no chest pain at all despite documented lack of adequate blood and oxygen supply. These patients have "silent" angina, and have the same risk of heart attack as those with angina.

When a blood clot (thrombus) forms on top of this plaque, the artery becomes completely blocked causing a heart att...

Recommended Reading Related to Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

Heart Disease »

Heart disease facts

  • Coronary artery disease is the most common cause of death in the United States. Over a million people each year will have a heart attack and 25% will die before they get to the hospital while or in the Emergency Department.
  • Prevention is the key to treatment of heart disease.
  • Diagnosis of heart disease is often made by careful history taken by a health care practitioner. Some individuals may have atypical symptoms, including almost none at all.
  • The testing strategy to confirm the diagnosis and plan appropriate treatment needs to be individualized for each patient diagnosed with heart disease.
  • Treatment of heart disease depends upon the severity of disease, and is often directed by the symptoms experienced by the affected individual.

Introduction to heart disease

The heart is like any other muscle, requiring oxygen and nutrient-rich blood for it t...

Emergency Contact for Birmingham

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Birmingham Hospitals *

Birmingham VA Medical Center
700 S 19th St
Birmingham, AL 35233
(205)933-8101

UAB Hospital
619 S 19th St
Birmingham, AL 35294
(205)934-4011

Children's Hospital
1600 7th Ave South
Birmingham, AL 35233
(205)939-9100

Cooper Green Hospital
1515 6th Ave S
Birmingham, AL 35233
(205)930-3200

Callahan Eye Foundation Hospital
1720 University Blvd
Birmingham, AL 35233
(205)325-8100

St Vincent's Hospital
810 St Vincent Dr
Birmingham, AL 35205
(205)939-7000

UAB Highlands Hospital
1201 11th Ave S
Birmingham, AL 35205
(205)930-7000

Princeton Baptist
701 Princeton Ave SW
Birmingham, AL 35211
(205)783-3000

Trinity Medical Center
800 Montclair Rd
Birmingham, AL 35213
(205)592-1000

HEALTHSOUTH Lakeshore Rehabilitation Hospital
3800 Ridgeway Dr
Birmingham, AL 35209
(205)868-2000

Brookwood Medical Center
2010 Brookwood Medical Center Dr
Birmingham, AL 35209
(205)877-1000

Hill Crest Behavioral Health Services
6869 5th Ave S
Birmingham, AL 35212
(205)833-9000

St Vincent's East
50 Medical Park East Dr
Birmingham, AL 35235
(205)838-3000

UAB Medical West
995 9th Ave SW
Bessemer, AL 35022
(205)481-7000

Shelby Baptist Medical Center
1000 1st St N
Alabaster, AL 35007
(205)620-8100

Bradford Health Services
1189 Allbritton Rd
Warrior, AL 35180
(205)647-1945

St Vincent's St Clair
2805 Dr John Haynes Dr
Pell City, AL 35125
(205)338-3301

Walker Baptist Medical Center
3400 Hwy 78 E
Jasper, AL 35501
(205)387-4000

St Vincent's Blount
150 Gilbreath Dr
Oneonta, AL 35121
(205)274-3000

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