http://www.appliedradiology.com RSS Feed on Applied Radiologyhttp://www.appliedradiology.com//Issues/2001/11/Supplements/Has-the-surgical-era-ended-for-multivessel-coronary-artery-disease--A-treatment-update.aspxCoronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a well-established treatment for multivessel coronary disease. Randomized trials comparing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) with surgery demonstrate equivalent frequencies of death and myocardial infarction. However, PTCA has a high repeat procedure rate and crossover to CABG. Stents improve success rates while reducing the frequency of repeat procedures and emergency surgery. Accordingly, a re-evaluation of the role of percutaneous coronary revascularization in the treatment of multivessel coronary disease is required. Thus, understanding the earlier PTCA versus CABG trials and the recent stent versus CABG trials is critical for today's clinicians as they decide on the optimal treatment for individual patients with multivessel coronary disease.Thursday, 17 Jan 2002 00:51:49 GMT