What does CABG stand for in medical terminology?

CABG stands for Coronary Artery Bypass Graft. This is a surgical procedure performed to improve blood flow to the heart. It involves creating a new pathway or bypass around blocked arteries to ensure that blood can flow more freely to the heart muscle. During the procedure, a surgeon takes a healthy blood vessel from another part of the body and grafts it onto the coronary artery to bypass the area of blockage. This is particularly important for patients with severe coronary artery disease, as it can alleviate symptoms such as chest pain (angina) and reduce the risk of heart attacks.

The other options refer to different cardiovascular procedures or interventions. Cardiac catheterization involves inserting a catheter into the heart's blood vessels to diagnose or treat conditions. Coronary stenting is a procedure to place a stent in a narrowed coronary artery to keep it open. Angioplasty also involves widening narrowed arteries but does not involve grafting a new vessel like CABG does. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify the purpose and significance of CABG in the context of heart health.