Angioplasty and Bypass Surgery - Treating Coronary Heart Disease

In this podcast, I’ll discuss the two main surgical methods of treatment for CHD; angioplasty and Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG). The term ‘angioplasty’ refers to the use of a balloon to stretch open a narrowed or blocked artery. Most modern angioplasty procedures involve the use of a stent, a small, metal mesh-like device that acts as a support or scaffold, in keeping the vessel open. CABG is a surgical procedure in which arteries or veins from elsewhere are grafted to the coronary arteries to bypass atherosclerotic narrowing and improve blood supply to the myocardium.