Posted on 01/25/2023 8:38:00 PM PST by ConservativeMind
A study of more than 100,000 patients has revealed that, for patients with blockages in multiple arteries, those who opt for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) are less likely to die from their condition, less likely to need additional surgery, and less likely to have a heart attack than patients who choose to undergo a stent procedure.
"The findings of our study were very convincing," said J. Hunter Mehaffey MD, MSc. "The singular message to the public is that the optimal treatment for multivessel coronary artery disease—to improve not only long-term survival but also lower your risk of complications—is coronary artery bypass surgery."
The background and rationale for this research project started with the publication of the 2021 ACC/AHA/SCAI Guideline for Coronary Artery Revascularization, Dr. Mehaffey explained. "The cardiac surgery world was really shocked, because the guidelines downgraded the indications for CABG from a class 1 recommendation to a class 2B."
The population included more than 100,000 patients with multivessel coronary disease, with 51,000 patients undergoing CABG and 52,000 undergoing stenting. Analysis was performed by a multidisciplinary team that included cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, and researchers.
The analysis demonstrated a significantly lower hospital mortality for the patients who underwent CABG compared to those who underwent stenting. Additionally, the researchers found a marked reduction in both 30-day and 3-year readmissions for myocardial infarction. CABG patients were also significantly less likely to need any additional stenting or intervention on their coronary arteries during those 3 years, and—most significantly—those who underwent CABG had a nearly 60% reduction in death at 3 years compared to those who had stenting.
(Excerpt) Read more at medicalxpress.com ...
Who wants a saw taken to their sternum?
Not me, won’t have any kind of invasive diagnostic or treatment procedure. Prefer to exit stage while still able.
Yet no mention of Dr Esselstyn or Dr Ornish and their revolutionary plant-based dietary programs for reversing heart disease. It seems medicine follows the easy big bucks .
I had triple bypass surgery in late 2015. My blockages (80% in each) were discovered upon having a calcium scan test due to family history of CAD; I had no issues or heart muscle damage. A stent is a foreign object and I’m not sure that I would trust them long-term. Anyway, the “cabbage” worked for me.
100,000 patients?
But there is no control population?
My understanding based on recent studies is that medical intervention, like drugs (and intermittent fasting) results in a better overall mortality.
Seems like this study is about which of the two approaches mentioned is less bad.
Apparently something like Dean Ornish program is beneficial. In fact, there is strong evidence that decrease in consumption of sugar, and carbohydrates along with intermittent fasting (one meal a day) gives very good results for very little cost.
Also, note that meat is not the enemy. But humans don’t seem to need a lot of it every day. So the plant-based thing is over-rated. (And I would avoid most vegetable burgers as they have high carbohydrates. Correct me if that is wrong?)
My older brother had five heart stents even having one replaced since it was an older technology without the anti coagulates. He recently had cardiac by pass surgery. While his stents apparently worked well at first, bypass was eventually needed.
I had an artificial mitral valve installed in 1990. Then put on warfarin with no problems.
In 2006, I began to have heart pains and x rays showed a blocked artery. A stent was installed and my warfarin dosage was upped.
I still had one little pain and another x ray showed a small artery plugged. they said not to mess with it as it would soon stretch out and be OK.
Have had no problems since.
I always felt forced exercises from Jr high school till 1990 was the cause of my problems. It was.
I SHOULD ADD, In 2006, when I started having heart pains it felt like someone was stabbing me in the heart with an ice pick.
The doctor said it was probably just heartburn or indigestion, so nothing was done except giving me “nitro tablets”. The pains did not go away.
A look at the family history showed several ancestors died of “acute indigestion.”
I now bet they all died of heart attacks caused by blocked arteries.
SO, A WARNING! If you suddenly start having what feels like stabs in the heart and they say “heartburn”, get another opinion with x rays and dyes fast! It just might not be heartburn but an actual blocked artery.
Add stabs in the shoulders and Jaw are indicative of heart attack.
War-hero Dad lived to 97 with a multi-bypass at age 59.
I’ve got 3 stents, 1 for 17 years and the other 2 for 11 years. I set a personal record every day.
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