What is on-pump bypass surgery?

Coronary artery bypass is surgery to treat coronary artery disease. It helps blood make a detour around, or bypass, one or more coronary arteries that may be narrowed or blocked. The surgery helps restore normal blood flow to the heart muscle.

It can be done without a pump or with a pump called a heart-lung bypass machine. When doctors use a pump, they first make cuts (incisions) in your chest. Then they use tubes to connect you to the pump. It moves blood through your body and adds oxygen to it without using your heart and lungs. That lets doctors stop your heart while they work on it.

After surgery, they restart your heart and remove the tubes.

You may stay in the hospital for a few days. You will likely be able to do many of your usual activities after a few weeks.