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Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Coronary Artery Revascularization
Published on: September 15, 2023
Stenting versus bypass surgery for the treatment of left main coronary artery disease
1Division of Cardiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. sjpark@amc.seoul.kr
Insights
Coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG) is recommended for left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease. However, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with stenting shows comparable outcomes, prompting consideration as an alternative treatment.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Interventional Cardiology
Background:
- Current guidelines recommend coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG) for left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease.
- Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is an option for patients unsuitable for CABG.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy and safety of PCI with stenting versus CABG for LMCA disease.
- To evaluate current evidence supporting PCI as an alternative to CABG.
Main Methods:
- Review of data comparing CABG with medical therapy.
- Analysis of registry data and clinical trials on PCI with stenting for LMCA disease.
Main Results:
- PCI with stenting demonstrates comparable mortality and morbidity rates to CABG.
- Growing evidence supports PCI as a viable alternative treatment for LMCA disease.
Conclusions:
- PCI with stenting is a favorable alternative for select patients with LMCA disease.
- Further randomized trials are needed to definitively compare PCI and CABG strategies.
Abstract:
Based on data comparing coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG) with medical therapy, the current guidelines recommend CABG as the treatment of choice for patients with left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) can be selectively performed in patients who are candidates for revascularization but who are ineligible for CABG. Current evidence indicates that stenting results in mortality and morbidity rates compared favorably with those seen after CABG. Data from several extensive registries and a large clinical trial may have prompted many interventional cardiologists to choose PCI with stenting as an alternative treatment option for such patients. In addition, these data may inform future guidelines and support the need for well-designed, adequately powered, prospective, randomized trials comparing the two revascularization strategies.
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