Coronary artery bypass surgery indications


 * Associate Editors-in-Chief:, Mohammed A. Sbeih, M.D. [mailto:msbeih@perfuse.org]

Indications for CABG
CABG is the preferred treatment with:


 * Disease of the left main coronary artery (LMCA). LMCA disease is associated with sudden death; therefore, lesions of the LMCA are sometimes referred to as widow makers.
 * Disease of all three coronary vessels (LAD, LCX and RCA).
 * Diffuse disease not amendable to treatment with a PCI.
 * CABG is the likely the preferred treatment with other high-risk patients such as those with severe ventricular dysfunction (i.e. low ejection fraction), or diabetes mellitus patients, particularly those with disease involving the left anterior descending artery.

Alternative treatments for coronary artery disease include:


 * Medical management (statins, antihypertensives, smoking cessation, tight blood sugar control in diabetics).
 * Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)-Both PCI and CABG are more effective than medical management at relieving symptoms, (e.g. angina, dyspnea, fatigue), but repeat procedures are required more frequently after PCI.