Center for Health Statistics
Texas Health Care Information Collection

Utilization Review: Specific Inpatient Procedures by Texas Hospital Referral Region, 2010

A coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is the surgical restoration of blood flow to the vessels serving the heart. It is a commonly used approach for those with obstructions of the heart blood vessels.

Why is this measure important?
CABG is an elective procedure that may be over-used. It is performed on patients with coronary artery disease. The risk factors associated with CABG include smoking, hyperlipidemia (high blood cholesterol and triglycerides) and older age.

Why might there be variation?
Substantial variations in the rate at which this procedure is performed may reflect the availability of other revascularization techniques, the availability of surgeons and other skilled personnel, or variations in the way patients are chosen for the procedure. The prevalence of coronary artery disease may be related to the age structure of the population and the prevalence of behavioral or physiologic risk factors such as smoking and hyperlipidemia.

What does this measure tell us?
The graphs and tables in this section show:

• A geographical representation of CABG rates by Hospital Referral Region.
• A chart and table presentation of the CABG rates for the Hospital Referral Regions.
• Charts showing the volume and mortality rates for CABG at Texas hospitals.  Risk adjusted rate and volume to be added summer 2012.
• Utilization of CABG procedures in 2007.

These measures are calculated by comparing the total number of non-maternal discharges age 40 and over who had a CABG procedure with the total population in the hospital referral region age 40 and over. The numerator excludes discharges related to pregnancy and childbirth.