Cardiac Surgery 2025 Reviewed

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Surgery
• Interventional Cardiology
• Clinical Evidence Synthesis

Background:

• Systematic review of cardio-surgical literature for 2025.
• Focus on randomized and observational evidence in cardiovascular therapies.
• Analysis of recent guidelines and their impact on treatment decisions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a results-oriented summary of key cardio-surgical publications from the past year.
• To evaluate the comparative effectiveness of different treatment modalities for coronary artery disease and valvular heart disease.
• To inform patient-specific decision-making based on current evidence.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
• Analysis of randomized trials, meta-analyses, and registry data.
• Synthesis of evidence regarding coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and transcatheter/surgical valve therapies.

Main Results:

• Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) demonstrates superior long-term outcomes over percutaneous coronary intervention for complex coronary artery disease, primarily due to reduced myocardial infarctions.
• Atrial fibrillation post-CABG is common but has negligible long-term impact; prolonged dual antiplatelet therapy offers no benefit and increases bleeding risk.
• Transcatheter mitral/tricuspid valve therapies improve symptoms and quality of life, but surgery provides more consistent long-term outcomes, especially in experienced centers. Controversies exist regarding aortic stenosis treatment guidelines.

Conclusions:

• Coronary artery bypass grafting remains the preferred strategy for complex coronary artery disease.
• While transcatheter therapies are advancing for other valve diseases, surgical intervention offers more robust long-term results.
• Evidence synthesis highlights the ongoing debate and evolving landscape in cardiovascular treatment strategies, emphasizing the need for individualized patient care.