double bypass

surgery

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Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

A double bypass is a surgical procedure to treat coronary heart disease, a condition where fatty plaques build up in the coronary arteries, reducing blood flow to the heart. This can cause chest pain (angina pectoris) and increase the risk of a heart attack.

The surgery involves creating new paths for blood flow by transplanting veins, usually from the patient's leg, to bypass the blocked sections of the coronary arteries. In a double bypass, two such grafts are performed. While often requiring open-heart surgery, minimally invasive techniques like keyhole surgery are also used. This procedure became common in the late 1960s for relieving angina.12

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coronary artery bypass
…though in the case of double bypass surgery one of the internal mammary arteries, which supply blood to the chest wall, can be diverted to supply the heart muscle. In some instances a vein from the wrist may be used.
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…though in the case of double bypass surgery one of the internal mammary arteries, which supply blood to the chest wall, can be diverted to supply the heart muscle. In some instances a vein from the wrist may be used.
Read More