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Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Center - Rapid City, SD

Rapid City 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

Rapid City, South Dakota

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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 Rapid City

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Rapid City Hospitals *

Regional West Center for Behavioral Health
915 Mountain View Rd
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605)719-7200

Rapid City Regional Hospital
353 Fairmont Blvd
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605)719-1000

Black Hills Rehabilitation Hospital
2908 5th St
Rapid City, SD 57701
(605)719-1100

Rapid City Indian Health Service Hospital
3200 Canyon Lake Dr
Rapid City, SD 57702
(605)355-2500

Sturgis Community Health Care Center
949 Harmon St
Sturgis, SD 57785
(605)347-2536

VA Black Hills Health Care System Fort Meade
113 Comanche Rd
Fort Meade, SD 57741
(605)347-2511

Custer Community Hospital
1039 Montgomery St
Custer, SD 57730
(605)673-2229

Northern Hills General Hospital
61 Charles St
Deadwood, SD 57732
(605)578-2313

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