When the internal thoracic artery or gastroepiploic artery is used to bypass a coronary artery, it is only necessary to divide these and attach the divided end to the side of the coronary artery to be bypassed. The risk of the procedure is exceedingly small depending upon the patient's medical condition. Long-term results have been excellent. When internal thoracic artery is used, a 90 percent success rate is expected five years after the operation compared with 70 percent for vein grafts. Radial arteries and gastroepiploic arteries are also long lasting.
Hospitalization depends on the type of procedure done.
Today, mini-invasive techniques are being introduced. These newer procedures have shortened the hospital stay in general. Because of the progression of arteriosclerosis in the patient's original coronary arteries, and because of changes developing in the conduits used to bypass blocked vessels, a patient might need a second coronary artery bypass operation. In fact, as many as three or even four coronary artery bypass operations have been performed for many patients suffering from progressive coronary artery occlusive disease. A new modality called transmyocardial laser revascularization has been developed for patients who have failed bypass grafting or who have other medical indications.