When your heart arteries get clogged, two main options come up: a stent, a tiny mesh tube inserted to prop open a blocked artery during angioplasty, or a coronary artery bypass, a surgical procedure that creates a new path for blood to flow around a blocked artery using a vein or artery from another part of the body. Both aim to restore blood flow, but they’re not the same—and choosing between them isn’t just about what’s trendy, it’s about what fits your body, your risk, and your life.
Stents are less invasive. They’re placed through a catheter in your wrist or groin, usually in a few hours, and most people go home the next day. They work great for single or a few blockages, especially if you’re having a heart attack. But stents don’t fix the underlying disease. Plaque can build up again inside the stent, and you’ll need to take blood thinners for months, sometimes years. On the other hand, coronary artery bypass, often called CABG, is major surgery. It opens your chest, stops your heart briefly, and uses a graft to reroute blood. Recovery takes weeks, not days. But for people with multiple blockages, diabetes, or weak heart muscle, bypass often lasts longer and reduces the chance of another heart attack more than stents alone.
It’s not just about the procedure—it’s about what comes after. Stent patients need strict medication plans to prevent clots. Bypass patients need to rebuild strength, manage scars, and often make bigger lifestyle changes. Neither is a cure. Both require ongoing care: checking blood pressure, controlling cholesterol, quitting smoking, and moving your body. The real question isn’t just ‘stent or bypass?’ It’s ‘what’s the best long-term plan for my heart?’
Below, you’ll find real-world posts that break down what happens during these procedures, how recovery actually feels, which medications are non-negotiable, and when doctors recommend one over the other. No hype. No jargon. Just what matters when your heart is on the line.
PCI and CABG are two ways to treat blocked heart arteries. Learn how they differ, which one is better for your condition, and what the latest data says about survival, recovery, and long-term outcomes.