Heart bypass surgery (CABG): internal mammary artery usage

The internal mammary artery (IMA) supplies blood and oxygen to the chest wall. During heart bypass surgery, also known as coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, a detour is created around the blocked portion of the diseased coronary artery by harvesting (obtaining) an artery or vein from the patient’s body. Surgeons can opt to use the IMA to create the detour.

Surgeons prefer to use the IMA to perform a bypass graft detour whenever possible because of the IMA’s ability to resist cholesterol build-up and its location near the heart. A higher percentage than average may indicate that a hospital provides a higher level of patient care.

About this measure

This measure tracks the percentage of coronary artery bypass grafts that were performed using an IMA in 2011.
 

Note: In this case, a higher number is better.