Coronary Artery Disease
Coronary artery disease is caused by plaque buildup in the walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart and other parts of the body. Plaque is made up of deposits of cholesterol and other substances in the artery.
Plaque buildup causes the inside of the arteries to narrow over time, which can partially or totally block the blood flow. This process is called atherosclerosis. Coronary artery disease is the result of plaque buildup in the arteries tat supply blood to your hear. Over time, the blood vessels become more narrowed restricting blood flow.
When blockages are mild, most people show no signs of symptoms. As the blood vessel becomes more narrowed, this can result in chest pain and eventually a heart attack. Some people, such as diabetics, won't necessarily feel the symptoms of chest pain and can have silent heart attacks.
If all three major coronary arteries contain significant disease, patients are often referred to a cardiac surgeon for open heart surgery to bypass all three major vessels. Decisions for medial management, stenting, or surgery are mad based on a team approach in conjunction with your surgeon, cardiologist, and primary care physician.
3-Star Rating from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons
One of just three cardiac programs in the United States and Canada, in 2019, Sarasota Memorial Hospital earned the highest 3-Star rating from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for patient care and outcomes in all five adult cardiac surgery procedures STS measures - Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass (CABG), Isolated Aortic Valve Replacement (AVR), AVR + CABG, Isolated Mitral Valve Replacement/Repair (MVRR) and MVRR + CABG.
Denoting the highest category of quality among hospitals, the cardiac surgery team is among the top performers of more than 3,800 participating cardiothoracic surgeons.
Founded in 1964, STS is a not-for-profit organization representing more than 7,600 surgeons, researchers, and allied health care professionals worldwide who are dedicated to ensuring the best possible outcomes for surgeries of the heart, lungs, and esophagus, as well as other surgical procedures within the chest.
