Life after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: Lifestyle Changes, Secondary Prevention, and Quality of Life

Abstract Approximately 200 million people worldwide suffer from ischemic heart disease. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is known as a treatment option for multivessel and left main coronary artery disease, with better survival rates and lower major adverse cardiac events compared with medical therapy or percutaneous cardiovascular intervention alone in several cases. Lifestyle following CABG has been written about extensively; however, the creation of a general, evidence-based guide for both patients and physicians across different specialties appears necessary, given the overwhelming amount of literature available, the continued refinement of guidelines, and technological advancements over time. We reviewed the latest data on CABG in both the United States and worldwide, utilizing consensus statements from the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology and European Society of Cardiology literature, as well as the PubMed database and UpToDate, to obtain the most up-to-date information on these topics. We then organized our findings into multiple categories detailing surgical techniques, postoperative care, medication types, long-term prognosis, the importance of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, as well as future directions.