title: Management of multivessel coronary disease: let us not shortchange drug-eluting stents.
abstract: A recent observational study of coronary artery graft (CABG) versus drug-eluting stents (DES) performed in the state of New York reported that CABG was superior to DES for multivessel disease. Our comment provides rational criticism of this study, reviews the data that support a role for DES in the management of multivessel coronary disease, and emphasizes the need for ongoing prospective clinical trials in this area. Till randomized trial data become available, physicians should continue to use their clinical judgment based on existing evidence in managing their patients with multivessel coronary artery disease (CAD).
authors.affiliation: Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories, Guthrie Clinic, One Guthrie Square, Sayre, PA 18840, USA. harjai_kishore@guthrie.org
authors.forename: Kishore J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Harjai
authors.forename: Cindy L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Grines
mesh_terms: D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery*; D054855:Drug-Eluting Stents; D006801:Humans; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012008:Recurrence; D012107:Research Design; D016896:Treatment Outcome