Why do cabg grafts fail and what are treatment options?

Coronary artery bypass surgery, also coronary artery bypass graft surgery and heart bypass (colloquial), is a surgical procedure performed on patients with coronary artery disease (see atherosclerosis) for the relief of angina and possible improved heart muscle function. Veins or arteries from elsewhere in the patient's body are grafted from the aorta to the coronary arteries, bypassing coronary artery narrowings caused by atherosclerosis and improve the blood supply to the myocardium (heart muscle)

One complication of the said surgery is Graft failure leading to myocardial infarction.Graft failure occurs due to occlussion of the graft place. The causes of occlussion are due to development of atherosclerotic plaques from diet and also when an individual is predisposed to developing blood clots.

Treatment options are aimed at revascularizing the occluded graft either by placing a stent (if it can be salvaged). If not the cardiothoracic surgeon and cardiologist would have to decide on doing a Redo CABG.

CABG temporarily bypasses the block. It does not correct the underlying conditions like diabetes,high B.P.,hyperlipedimia.So fresh blocks can appear.Moreover CABG does not reduce the age.A second bypass or medical treatment with change in life style will do. A physician can guide properly.

Coronary artery bypass graft is being replaced by off pump coronary artery bypass graft. In the new technique (OPCABG), artery is used instead vein for bypass graft. Bypass operation is done in a pulsating heart without using heart lung machine. This procedure has many long term benefits and advantages over the present conventional methods.
The lifestyle of the patient has to be changed for CABG to become more successful. Consult your cardiologist.

Grafts fail for the exact same reasons that native arteries clog.
Diabetes, high cholesterol, smoking, genetics.

The grafts are veins that are used to replace clogged arteries. But the same thing that caused the arteries to clog can cause the "new" arteries to also clog. That is why they preach stop smoking, get your cholesterol checked, watch your diet, exercise, lose weight, monitor your blood sugar, etc. Some people have hereditary problems or diseases that bypass can't fix - like hyperlipidemia (esp. too much triglycerides) or diabetes. To fix the problem they try balloon angioplasty and/or stents. Sometimes the only treatment option is for cabg redo. Your doctor will know when this is the case.