Surgical myocardial revascularization in the 1990s

Substantial changes in the practice of cardiology ultimately produce a change in the types of patients who become candidates for surgery. This has been especially true for patients with coronary artery disease. The primary goals of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery are to relieve symptoms, prolong survival, and improve the quality of life. Because of recent improvements in pharmacologic therapy and medical interventions, the criteria used to select patients for CABG surgery has changed secondary to the clinical characteristics of the patient population.