Total arterial revascularization

Abstract

The superiority of coronary artery bypass grafting with a single internal thoracic artery and saphenous vein grafts over percutaneous coronary intervention has been demonstrated in large, multicentre randomized controlled trials, particularly for patients with diabetes and complex coronary disease. Long-term graft patency is critical to the benefit that coronary artery bypass grafting provides, since graft failure begets recurrent angina, need for repeat intervention, myocardial infarction and diminished survival. Saphenous vein grafts have significant rates of early and late graft failure.