Preparing questions in advance may help patients have more meaningful discussions with their physicians about their conditions. Patients may wish to ask their doctors the following questions related to coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG):

1. Why do I need bypass surgery instead of angioplasty?
   
   
2. How many CABG surgeries have you performed?
   
   
3. What complications will my other medical conditions present for surgery?
   
   
4. Will I have to take any medications regularly after surgery?
   
   
5. If you cannot access the blocked arteries with angioplasty, how do you know you can do so surgically?
   
   
6. What type of surgical procedure do you recommend?
   
   
7. Will this surgery involve a heart-lung machine or not?
   
   
8. How soon after a heart attack can CABG surgery be performed?
   
   
9. How does my diabetes complicate bypass surgery?
   
   
10. Do you always recommend surgery for patients with my background and symptoms?
    
    
11. I had bypass surgery 15 years ago. How will it be different this time?
    
    
12. If I have bypass now, will I have to have surgery or angioplasty again?
    
    
13. Will lifestyle changes after my surgery help lessen the chance of another bypass surgery?