NEW STUDY SHOWS STENTS NOT INFERIOR TO BYPASS SURGERY
Coronary artery disease (CAD) of the left main coronary artery has traditionally been treated surgically with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) even though some trials have demonstrated similar outcomes using percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) using stents.
A recent study showed that PCI with drug-eluting stent placement is non-inferior to coronary artery bypass surgery. This study and others indicate that, at least over the shorter (3 year) term, stents are not inferior to bypass grafting. At 3 years, PCI and CABG did not differ on the composite main outcome for these selected patients with Left Main Coronary Artery Disease. Early major adverse events were 15 percentage points more common with CABG. Late occlusion requiring revascularization was 5 percent more common with PCI.
Longer follow-up is necessary in these studies to assess the long term impact of both of these treatment options. However, these results, particularly the early benefit and faster recovery, will likely prompt many more patients and physicians to choose PCI over CABG.
WorldPath Health provides the most advanced techniques for detecting and evaluating coronary artery disease. When needed, Coronary Artery Bypass and Percutaneous Coronary intervention with stent placement can both be performed when needed by WorldPath Health expert physicians at the top tier WorldPath Health hospital affiliates in Boston and elsewhere.
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