A study recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, shows that Coronary Artery Bypass Grafts (CABG) are associated will better outcomes than the less invasive stents.

Group of researchers at the State University of New York, led by Dr. Edward L. Hannan studied 7,500 patients with coronary artery disease, who underwent bypass grafting, and 10,000 patients who were managed with drug-eluting stents.  It was shown that patients with two blocked coronary arteries who received coronary artery grafts had a 29% lower risk of dying in the 18 months following the procedure, than those who received stents.  Those with three blocked coronary arteries who received a graft had a 25% lower risk.  It was also found that they were less likely to need another procedure caused by coronary arteries blocking after a period of  of time.

Although the study involved a relatively large number of patients, it was not a randomized trial.  As a result, the findings may not necessarily be indicative of the general patient population, some experts argue.

As with any medical procedure, the right choice will depend on each individual’s medical history and severity of the disease.  The question whether bypass or angioplasty (stents) will be best, will ultimately have to be decided by the individual patients and their physicians.