Is CABG the preferred method of revascularization in multivessel coronary artery disease?
Harindra C. Wijeysundera and David A. Alter Division of Cardiology, Sunnybrook and Women’s College Health Sciences Centre, Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont. Hannan EL, Racz MJ, Walford G, Jones RH, Ryan TJ, Bennet E, et al. Long-term outcomes of coronary-artery bypass grafting versus stent implantation. N Engl J Med 2005;352(21):2174-83. Background: Clinicians still debate the merits of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) relative to coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for patients with multivessel coronary artery disease. To date, only 4 randomized clinical trials have compared the outcomes of PCI and stent implantation with those of CABG.1,2 Such studies have been too highly selective, small and underpowered to demonstrate a consistent and compelling mortality advantage of one modality over the other. Design: This retrospective study compared outcomes for 22 102 patients undergoing PCI and stenting with 37 212 patients undergoing
