title: Comparison between multivessel stenting with drug eluting to the LAD and bilateral internal thoracic artery grafting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Reduction of restenosis and reinterventions was reported with drug-eluting stents (Cypher). This study compares results of multivessel Cypher stenting with bilateral internal thoracic artery (BITA) grafting.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2002 to June 2004, 725 consecutive patients underwent multivessel myocardial revascularization, 95 by 2 or more Cypher stents and 630 by BITA. After matching for age, sex, and extent of coronary artery disease, 2 groups (87 patients each) were used to compare the 2 revascularization modalities.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 2 groups were similar; however, left main and the use of an intra-aortic balloon pump were more prevalent in the BITA group. The number of coronary vessels treated per patient was higher in the BITA group (2.71 versus 2.24 for BITA and Cypher, respectively; P = .001). Mean follow-up was 12 months. Thirty-day mortality was 0 in both groups. There were no late deaths in the BITA group and 2 (2.3%) in the Cypher group (P value was not significant). Angina returned in 29.9% of the Cypher group and 12.6% of the BITA group (P = .005). Multivariable Cox analysis revealed percutaneous intervention (PCI) (Cypher group) to be the only independent predictor of angina recurrence (Odds Ratio 2.62, 95% Confidence Interval 1.11-6.17). There were 10 reinterventions (PCI) in the Cypher group compared to 5 in the BITA group. One-year reintervention-free survival (Kaplan-Meier) of the BITA group was 96% compared to 88% in the Cypher group (P = .015).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Midterm clinical outcome of surgically treated patients is still better. However, the reintervention gap between surgery and percutaneous interventions was reduced by treating 2 or more coronary vessels with Cypher stents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Assuta Medical Center, Sheba, Israel.
authors.forename: Itzhak
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Herz
authors.forename: Yaron
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Moshkovitz
authors.forename: Roni
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Braunstein
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Uretzky
authors.forename: Einat
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zivi
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hendler
authors.forename: Yanai
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ben-Gal
authors.forename: Rephael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mohr
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D023903:Coronary Restenosis; D023921:Coronary Stenosis; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007387:Internal Mammary-Coronary Artery Anastomosis; D008297:Male; D012086:Reoperation; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents