How is bypass graft surgery performed?
Bypass graft surgery is done with the patient under anesthesia or asleep, and often on a heart/lung bypass machine that allows the heart to be still and quiet and actually stop beating during the period of time that the sewing is done. So when the graft is sewn from the aorta–sewn from the aorta down past the blockage onto the coronary artery, beyond the blockage. In some circumstances, the heart can be allowed to keep beating while a bypass graft is sewn in place. But exactly what kind of surgery is done depends on the individual and the surgeon and the particular circumstance to choose the way of doing it that is safest for the patient.
