Current Advances and Navigating the Complexities of SVG-PCI

Saphenous vein graft (SVG) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains technically challenging and clinically high risk due to the friable, thrombus-rich nature of SVG lesions, which predispose to distal embolization, no-reflow, and periprocedural myocardial infarction (MI). The role of embolic protection devices in contemporary practice remains unclear. Although early randomized trials demonstrated significant reductions in periprocedural MI and no-reflow, contemporary observational studies and meta-analyses have not shown consistent clinical benefit. Similarly, while intracoronary imaging modalities provide detailed plaque characterization, their clinical application in guiding SVG-PCI remains unclear. Revascularization after prior coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) requires individualized, multidisciplinary decision-making. Factors favoring PCI include a patent left internal mammary artery (IMA)-left anterior descending artery graft and suitable coronary anatomy, whereas redo-CABG may be preferred in patients with multiple failing grafts or complex anatomy in which an IMA conduit can be used. Although guidelines have historically favored native-vessel PCI when feasible, the only randomized trial comparing SVG-PCI with native-vessel PCI in a contemporary setting demonstrated that SVG-PCI may offer superior outcomes in certain patient populations, particularly when native coronary disease is complex, and the chronic total occlusion burden is high. Predictors of adverse outcomes have been identified across patient-, lesion-, and procedure-related characteristics; however, their integration into clinical decision-making is limited by the lack of validated risk-stratification tools. Future randomized studies in the contemporary PCI era are needed. Additionally, the integration of imaging technologies, together with artificial intelligence and machine-learning-enhanced risk prediction models, may help individualize patient selection and optimize procedural strategy.