Which condition is also considered an indication for CABG?

Which condition is also considered an indication for CABG?

• A. Left main disease
• B. Right arm ischemia
• C. Atrial fibrillation
• D. Pulmonary embolism

Answer: (A)

Significant left main coronary artery disease involves a large portion of the heart muscle, creating a high-risk situation where durable revascularization with CABG is often the best option to restore blood flow and improve outcomes. When the left main is severely narrowed, especially if there is multivessel disease or diabetes, bypass grafting provides reliable long-term survival benefits compared with other approaches, which is why this finding is a classic indication for CABG. The other options do not describe a direct need for coronary bypass: ischemia in the right arm points to peripheral vascular issues, atrial fibrillation is a rhythm disorder not in itself an indication for CABG (and would be treated by rhythm control or ablation if needed), and a pulmonary embolism is a venous clot issue treated with anticoagulation or thrombolysis, not CABG.

Significant left main coronary artery disease involves a large portion of the heart muscle, creating a high-risk situation where durable revascularization with CABG is often the best option to restore blood flow and improve outcomes. When the left main is severely narrowed, especially if there is multivessel disease or diabetes, bypass grafting provides reliable long-term survival benefits compared with other approaches, which is why this finding is a classic indication for CABG. The other options do not describe a direct need for coronary bypass: ischemia in the right arm points to peripheral vascular issues, atrial fibrillation is a rhythm disorder not in itself an indication for CABG (and would be treated by rhythm control or ablation if needed), and a pulmonary embolism is a venous clot issue treated with anticoagulation or thrombolysis, not CABG.