title: Is hybrid coronary revascularization favored by cardiologists or cardiac surgeons?
abstract: We investigated the present use of integrated coronary revascularization (ICR) by interviewing a sample of United States invasive cardiologists and cardiac surgeons. Both groups still favor left internal mammary artery (LIMA) grafting to revascularize the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. There remains a lack of exposure to and acceptance of ICR, especially for surgeons. We report the findings of this national survey of 180 cardiologists and 160 surgeons, as they may serve as an indicator of the current opinions about ICR and its future applicability as a standard method of coronary artery revascularization. We discuss the limited popularity of minimally invasive hybrid procedures and the importance of further exposing cardiologists and surgeons to ICR.
authors.affiliation: Center for Less Invasive Cardiac Surgery and Robotic Heart Surgery, Buffalo General Hospital, 100 High Street, Buffalo, NY 14023, USA.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: D'Ancona
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Vassiliades
authors.forename: W Douglas
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.forename: Harry W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Donias
authors.forename: Kenneth D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Stahl
authors.forename: Hratch
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karamanoukian
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013903:Thoracic Surgery / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*