coronary bypass surgery

Cultural  

1. A surgical procedure to restore normal blood supply to the heart by creating new routes for the blood to travel into the heart when one or both of the coronary arteries have become clogged or obstructed (possibly due to atherosclerosis). These new routes are created by removing blood vessels from another part of the body (most often the veins of the leg) and grafting them onto the heart to bypass the clogged arteries.

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Often, people will call this kind of surgery a double, triple, or quadruple bypass, referring to the number of diseased coronary arteries that had to be bypassed during the operation.

Example Sentences

Among the other inventions ranked, coronary bypass surgery finished in the 26th spot, cotton gin, 30th, dishwasher, 50th, bluejeans, 56th, and Post-it Notes, 60th.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

In 2004, Mr. Clinton, who has a family history of heart disease, underwent quadruple coronary bypass surgery at a hospital in New York.

From New York Times • Oct. 17, 2021

He had a toe amputated because of circulatory troubles related to diabetes and underwent coronary bypass surgery in 1989.

From Fox News • Aug. 7, 2021

Dr. Johnson reports that married patients who have coronary bypass surgery are three times more likely to be alive 15 years later than their unmarried counterparts.

From Salon • Mar. 15, 2014

It surveyed its members on the prices paid for 23 medical services and products in different countries, asking after everything from a routine doctor’s visit to a dose of Lipitor to coronary bypass surgery.

From Washington Post • Mar. 2, 2012