What is the primary purpose of a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG)?

• A. To repair valve regurgitation.
• B. To transplant the heart.
• C. To decrease heart rate.
• D. To bypass extensive ischemia or when PCI is not possible.

Answer: (D)

The main idea being tested is restoring blood flow to the heart muscle by creating new routes for blood around blocked arteries. CABG achieves this by using grafts (such as the internal mammary artery or a vein) to bypass severely narrowed or blocked coronary arteries, revascularizing a large area of myocardium that isn’t getting enough blood. This is especially important when there is extensive ischemia or when lesions are not suitable for stenting, making PCI ineffective or impossible. The goal is to relieve angina, improve symptoms, and potentially improve survival in selected patients with multivessel or left main disease.

Other procedures or goals described aren’t the primary aim of CABG: repairing valve regurgitation targets the heart valves, heart transplantation replaces the whole heart, and decreasing heart rate isn’t a direct objective of CABG (though improved perfusion can influence physical capacity and symptoms).