What is a Coronary Artery Bypass (CABG)?

Coronary arteries deliver blood to the heart muscle. Sometimes, they become clogged by plaque (a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances). The result is a slowing of blood flow through the heart's blood vessels, which can lead to chest pain or a heart attack. Increasing blood flow to the heart muscle can relieve chest pain and reduce the risk of heart attack. A coronary artery bypass reroutes, or "bypasses,” blood around clogged arteries to improve blood flow and oxygen to the heart.

Learn more about Coronary Artery Bypass

How is Process of Care Measured?

University Hospitals participates in the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC): a nationwide alliance of academic medical centers and their affiliated hospitals. This group represents approximately 90% of the nation’s non-profit academic medical centers.

The UHC maintains a comparative database of healthcare measures which have been established to indicate the overall quality of commonly-performed medical procedures. Criteria for measuring heart surgery outcomes include:

Mortality Rate

Why is this important to you as a patient?
Mortality rate is an indicator of good patient care process
A lower number is better.

How do we compare outcomes?
UHCMC participates in the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) comparative database along with more than 100 other academic centers across the country. The national comparison shown below compares our outcomes to those of other nationally-recognized academic medical centers.

Results:
UHCMC’s CABG mortality rate is equal to the national average.

Coronary Artery Bypass: Patient Experience

Patient experience is measured by the following criteria:

• Length of stay
• Readmission to the Hospital

Length of Stay as a Quality Measure

• Why is this important to you as a patient?
  This measure indicates the number of days a patient spends in the hospital.A shorter length of stay usually indicates more efficient and effective care.It means the patient can return home faster to recuperate in a familiar, more comfortable surrounding. A shorter stay in the hospital is also generally less disruptive for the patient and his / her family.


• How do we compare outcomes?
  UHCMC participates in the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) comparative database along with more than 100 other academic centers across the country. The national comparison shown below compares our outcomes to those of other nationally-recognized academic medical centers.


• Results:
  UHCMC’s average length of stay for CABG is equal to the national average

Readmission to the Hospital as a Quality Measure

• Why is this important to you as a patient?
  This measure indicates the number of patients who are discharged from the hospital and then readmitted within 30 days of their discharge. A lower number indicates more efficient and effective care.


• How do we compare outcomes?
  UHCMC participates in the University HealthSystem Consortium (UHC) comparative database along with more than 100 other academic centers across the country. The national comparison shown below compares our outcomes to those of other nationally-recognized academic medical centers.


• Results:
  UHCMC’s readmission to the hospital for CABG is better than the national average.