Facing Bypass Surgery, CABG (Coronary Artery Bypass Graft) or Stents? There May Be Another Option.
Before you agree to open-heart surgery, angioplasty, or stenting, there is something you should know. EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) chelation therapy has been used for over 60 years to treat coronary artery disease — without surgery, without anaesthesia, without weeks in hospital.
At a Glance
- EDTA chelation is a non-surgical, NIH (National Institutes of Health)-studied alternative to CABG bypass surgery, stents, and angioplasty
- A simple IV drip — no cutting, no anaesthesia, no hospital stay
- The $30M TACT (Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy) trial showed 18% fewer cardiac events (41% for diabetic patients)
- Works in ALL arteries at once — unlike bypass or stents which treat one blockage at a time
- Addresses the root cause of atherosclerosis: toxic heavy metals that damage artery walls
- Typical course: 20–40 sessions, approximately 30 minutes each, 1–3 times per week
EDTA chelation therapy is a non-surgical treatment for coronary artery disease (CAD) and atherosclerosis that uses an intravenous infusion of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to remove the toxic heavy metals that drive arterial plaque formation. Studied in a $30 million NIH-funded clinical trial (TACT), chelation therapy has been used worldwide for over 60 years as an alternative to CABG (coronary artery bypass graft) surgery, angioplasty, and stenting. Patients with angina, significant coronary blockage, or a high coronary calcium score may benefit from exploring this non-surgical option at CancerSA in Centurion, Pretoria.
On This Page
Quick Facts
- Session Length
- ~30 minutes
- Typical Course
- 20–30 sessions
- Setting
- Non-surgical — out-patient
- Location
- Centurion, Pretoria
Do I Really Need Bypass Surgery?
This is the question that keeps you up at night. Your cardiologist has told you about CABG, stents, or angioplasty. Here is what you need to know.
CABG (coronary artery bypass graft) reroutes blood around blocked coronary arteries. It is a major open-heart operation — your chest is cut open, your heart is stopped, and a heart-lung machine keeps you alive while the surgeon grafts veins from your leg or chest wall. Whether it is a triple bypass, double bypass, or single bypass, recovery takes weeks to months. Angioplasty with stenting threads a balloon catheter into the blocked artery to compress the plaque and place a metal stent. It is less invasive than CABG but only treats one blockage at a time — and stents can re-narrow over time (restenosis).
Here is what most patients are not told: neither bypass surgery nor stents address the underlying cause of your arterial disease. The same process that blocked your arteries — atherosclerosis driven by toxic heavy metals, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation — continues after surgery. Many patients need repeat procedures.
Chelation therapy takes a fundamentally different approach. Instead of rerouting blood around the damage or propping arteries open with metal, it removes the toxic metals that are causing the damage in the first place. Once these metals are gone, your body can begin to heal itself. And it works in every artery simultaneously — coronary, carotid, peripheral, and cerebral. At our clinic in Centurion, Pretoria, we see patients from Johannesburg, Midrand, Sandton, and across Gauteng who are exploring non-surgical alternatives.
This approach is part of integrative medicine, where treatments are selected based on individual patient needs and may be used alongside or in consideration of conventional medical care.
You Just Got Your Angiogram Results
Your cardiologist has told you there is a 70%, 80%, or even 90% blockage in one or more coronary arteries. You have been told you need CABG surgery or stents. What now?
First — take a breath. Unless you are having an acute heart attack or unstable angina (chest pain at rest, worsening rapidly), you usually have time to explore your options. The blockage percentage your cardiologist found refers to the narrowing of one or more coronary arteries — the blood vessels that supply your heart muscle.
What the angiogram does not tell you is why the blockage formed. In many cases, the answer involves decades of accumulated toxic heavy metals — lead, mercury, cadmium, iron — that generate free radicals, damage your artery walls, and make cholesterol sticky enough to form plaque. This is atherosclerosis, also known as hardening of the arteries or coronary artery disease (CAD).
Conventional cardiology addresses the symptom (the blockage) with surgery or stents. Chelation therapy addresses the cause (the metals driving the damage). Both have a role. But many patients with stable coronary artery disease — even significant blockage — find that chelation therapy, combined with lifestyle changes, gives their body a chance to heal without the risks of open-heart surgery.
Common symptoms that bring patients to us
What Is Chelation Therapy for Heart Disease?
Toxic Metals Accumulate
Lead, mercury, cadmium, and iron build up in your body over decades. These metals generate free radicals that damage your artery walls and make cholesterol sticky.
EDTA Removes Them
An IV drip of EDTA grabs these metals like a claw and carries them out through your kidneys. The damage-causing catalysts are eliminated from your body.
Your Body Heals
Without the metals driving free radical damage, your body's own repair mechanisms can begin to stabilise and heal your arteries. Circulation improves. Symptoms ease.
The Evidence: $30 Million NIH Study
The TACT trial was funded by the US National Institutes of Health — the gold standard of medical research. 1,708 heart attack survivors. Double-blind. Placebo-controlled.
18%
Fewer cardiac events overall
41%
Fewer cardiac events (diabetic patients)
52%
Fewer recurrent heart attacks (diabetic)
43%
Lower death rate (diabetic patients)
Source: Trial to Assess Chelation Therapy (TACT), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH. Published 2013.
CABG (Coronary Artery Bypass Graft) vs Stents vs Chelation Therapy
CABG (Bypass Graft) Surgery
- ✕ Major open-heart surgery — chest cut open
- ✕ Heart stopped; heart-lung machine
- ✕ 1.5–3% mortality rate
- ✕ 4–12 weeks recovery
- ✕ Treats 2–4 specific blockages only
- ✕ Does not address root cause
- ✕ Grafts can re-block over time
Angioplasty & Stents
- ~ Catheter via groin or wrist — less invasive
- ~ Local anaesthesia / light sedation
- ~ Lower immediate risk than bypass
- ✕ 1–3 days recovery
- ✕ Treats ONE blockage at a time
- ✕ Does not address root cause
- ✕ Stents can re-narrow over time (restenosis — scar tissue regrows inside the stent)
- ✕ Lifelong blood thinners required
EDTA Chelation Therapy
- Simple IV drip — no cutting
- No anaesthesia needed
- Excellent safety record (NIH-verified)
- Out-patient — go home same day
- Works in ALL arteries simultaneously
- Addresses the root cause
- Maintenance sessions available
Not Just for Heart Disease
Because heavy metals damage every system in your body, removing them has far-reaching benefits.
EDTA removes the heavy metals that catalyse free radical damage to artery walls, allowing the body to stabilise and begin healing plaque-damaged vessels.
By removing lead and cadmium — metals strongly linked to hypertension — chelation can help reduce arterial stiffness and support healthier blood pressure levels.
The TACT trial showed a 41% reduction in cardiac events for diabetic patients — likely because diabetic blood vessels are especially vulnerable to heavy metal-driven oxidative stress.
Chelation works in every artery and capillary simultaneously, improving blood flow to the extremities where small-vessel damage often causes numbness, tingling, and coldness.
Accumulated toxic metals interfere with mitochondrial energy production at the cellular level; removing them helps restore the body's natural energy pathways.
Lead, mercury, and aluminium are neurotoxins that cross the blood-brain barrier; chelation reduces this toxic burden and may support clearer thinking and improved memory.
EDTA chelation was originally developed specifically to treat lead poisoning and remains the standard medical treatment for acute and chronic heavy metal toxicity.
Free radical damage from heavy metals accelerates ageing at the cellular level; by removing these metals, chelation reduces oxidative stress and supports longer-lasting cellular health.
Heavy metals suppress immune function and increase oxidative stress; chelation helps lighten the toxic load so the immune system can focus its resources on fighting disease.
What to Expect
From your first visit to your last session — here is what the journey looks like.
Your First Visit
Dr Pretorius will take a detailed medical history and review your current medications, symptoms, and cardiovascular risk factors. An ECG (electrocardiogram) will be performed to assess your heart's electrical activity. Blood work is drawn to check kidney function, mineral levels, and overall health. A urine challenge test may also be ordered — this involves administering a small dose of EDTA and then collecting your urine to measure exactly which heavy metals are present and in what quantities. This gives Dr Pretorius a clear baseline of your toxic metal burden before treatment begins.
Treatment Sessions
Each chelation session involves a simple IV drip lasting approximately approximately 30 minutes. You sit comfortably in a reclining chair — there are no needles beyond the initial IV insertion, no pain, and no anaesthesia. Most patients describe the experience as uneventful and relaxing. You are welcome to read a book, work on your phone, listen to music, or simply rest while the drip runs.
Frequency and Course Length
Sessions are typically scheduled one to three times per week, depending on your condition and how you respond to treatment. A full course usually involves 20 to 40 sessions, with 30 being the average for cardiovascular patients. Dr Pretorius will tailor the frequency and total number of sessions to your individual needs — there is no one-size-fits-all approach.
Between Sessions: Supplementation
Because EDTA can remove some beneficial minerals alongside the toxic metals, Dr Pretorius will prescribe a supplementation programme of vitamins and minerals to take between sessions. This typically includes a high-quality multi-mineral, zinc, magnesium, and other nutrients tailored to your blood work results. The supplementation ensures your body maintains optimal mineral balance throughout the course of treatment.
Monitoring Your Progress
Your progress is monitored throughout treatment with follow-up blood tests and, where appropriate, repeat urine challenge tests to measure how your heavy metal levels are decreasing. Dr Pretorius will also assess your symptoms, energy levels, and circulation at regular intervals. Many patients begin noticing improvements — better energy, reduced chest pain, warmer extremities — well before the course is complete.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does each chelation session take?
Each IV chelation session takes approximately approximately 30 minutes from start to finish. Including the time to get settled, have the IV line placed, and be monitored briefly afterwards, you should allow about 45 minutes to an hour for the full visit. It is a simple, comfortable process — most patients are in and out within the hour.
How many sessions will I need?
A typical course of chelation therapy for cardiovascular disease involves 20 to 40 sessions, with 30 being the average. Sessions are usually scheduled one to three times per week. The exact number depends on your heavy metal burden, the severity of your condition, and how your body responds to treatment. Dr Pretorius will assess your progress throughout and adjust the plan as needed. Some patients also choose periodic maintenance sessions after completing the initial course.
Does chelation therapy hurt?
No. The only discomfort is the small prick when the IV needle is inserted — the same as having a blood test. Once the drip is running, you feel nothing. There is no surgery, no anaesthesia, and no recovery time needed. Occasionally, some patients experience a mild warm sensation at the infusion site or brief light-headedness, but these are uncommon and pass quickly. Most patients find the sessions so uneventful that they read, work, or doze off during treatment.
Can I drive myself to and from treatment?
Yes, the vast majority of patients drive themselves to and from chelation sessions without any issues. There is no sedation or anaesthesia involved, and you remain fully alert throughout the treatment. We do recommend bringing a driver for your very first session, simply so you can see how your body responds. After that, most patients are comfortable driving themselves and returning to their normal activities immediately after treatment.
Will my medical aid cover chelation therapy?
Unfortunately, chelation therapy is not currently covered by most medical aid schemes in South Africa. All treatments at Cancer SA are private, and payment is the patient's responsibility. However, we provide a clear, upfront cost breakdown at your consultation so there are no surprises. Many patients find that a full course of chelation therapy costs significantly less than bypass surgery, hospital admission, and a lifetime of cardiac medications — and without the risks of major surgery.
Is chelation therapy an alternative to CABG bypass surgery?
CABG (coronary artery bypass graft) is a major open-heart operation. Chelation therapy is a non-surgical IV treatment that targets the underlying cause of coronary artery disease — toxic heavy metals that drive free radical damage and arterial plaque. The TACT trial showed chelation reduced cardiac events by 18% overall and 41% for diabetic patients. For patients with stable coronary artery disease, chelation offers a non-surgical option worth exploring. Dr Pretorius will review your angiogram results and advise.
I was told I have 70–90% blockage — can chelation help?
Many patients visit CancerSA after an angiogram reveals significant blockage. If your angina is stable (not worsening or occurring at rest), you generally have time to explore options. Chelation addresses the root cause of atherosclerosis rather than just the blockage itself. Dr Pretorius will review your angiogram, symptoms, and medical history to determine whether chelation is appropriate for your specific situation. Acute emergencies always require immediate conventional care.
What is the difference between stents, bypass, and chelation?
Stents (placed via angioplasty) prop open a single blocked artery with a metal mesh tube. CABG bypass grafts veins around blocked arteries — major surgery requiring your heart to be stopped. Chelation is a simple IV drip that removes the toxic heavy metals driving your arterial damage. The key difference: stents and bypass treat the symptom (the blockage) but not the cause. Chelation treats the cause and works in every artery simultaneously — coronary, carotid, peripheral, and cerebral.
I have a high coronary calcium score — what does this mean?
A coronary calcium score (or Agatston score) measures the amount of calcified plaque in your coronary arteries via a CT scan. A high score indicates significant atherosclerosis — hardening and narrowing of the arteries. While the calcium itself is difficult to remove, chelation therapy targets the toxic metals that drive ongoing plaque formation and arterial damage. By removing these metals, chelation may help stabilise existing plaque and slow further progression. Many patients with elevated calcium scores explore chelation as part of a comprehensive cardiovascular management approach.
Important: Private Treatment
All treatments at CancerSA are private and not covered by medical aid or insurance. We provide a clear cost breakdown at your consultation. Many patients find that a course of chelation therapy costs a fraction of bypass surgery, hospital admission, and a lifetime of cardiac medications.
Important Information
All treatments are provided within an integrative care framework and are tailored to the individual. They are not intended to replace necessary conventional medical care where required. Patients are encouraged to discuss all treatment options with their healthcare providers.
Individual results vary. The information on this website is for educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice.
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