title: Current options for treatment of chronic coronary artery disease.
abstract: The primary issues must be discussed regarding the decision making of treating a patient with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD), are the appropriateness of revascularization and the method which will be applied. The criteria will be the symptoms, the evidence of ischemia and the anatomical complexity of the coronary bed. Main indications are persistence of symptoms, despite oral medical treatment and the prognosis of any intervention. The prognosis is based on left ventricular function, on the number of coronary arteries with significant stenosis and the ischemic burden. For patients with symptoms and no evidence of ischemia, there is no benefit from revascularization. If ischemia is proven, revascularization is beneficial. If revascularization is decided, the next important issue must be taken under consideration is the choice of the appropriate method to be applied, surgical or interventional approach. Current treatment options will be presented.
authors.affiliation: 1 Cardiac Surgery Department, Director of "Henry Dunant" Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 2 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint" Luke Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece ; 3 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 5 Internal Medicine Department, "Theageneio" Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Pathology Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Sotirios N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Prapas
authors.affiliation: 1 Cardiac Surgery Department, Director of "Henry Dunant" Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 2 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint" Luke Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece ; 3 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 5 Internal Medicine Department, "Theageneio" Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Pathology Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Kosmas
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsakiridis
authors.affiliation: 1 Cardiac Surgery Department, Director of "Henry Dunant" Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 2 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint" Luke Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece ; 3 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 5 Internal Medicine Department, "Theageneio" Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Pathology Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zarogoulidis
authors.affiliation: 1 Cardiac Surgery Department, Director of "Henry Dunant" Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 2 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint" Luke Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece ; 3 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 5 Internal Medicine Department, "Theageneio" Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Pathology Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Katsikogiannis
authors.affiliation: 1 Cardiac Surgery Department, Director of "Henry Dunant" Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 2 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint" Luke Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece ; 3 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 5 Internal Medicine Department, "Theageneio" Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Pathology Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Theodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsiouda
authors.affiliation: 1 Cardiac Surgery Department, Director of "Henry Dunant" Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 2 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint" Luke Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece ; 3 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 5 Internal Medicine Department, "Theageneio" Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Pathology Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Antonios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sakkas
authors.affiliation: 1 Cardiac Surgery Department, Director of "Henry Dunant" Hospital, Athens, Greece ; 2 Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, "Saint" Luke Private Hospital, Thessaloniki, Panorama, Greece ; 3 Pulmonary Department-Oncology Unit, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 4 Surgery Department (NHS), University General Hospital of Alexandroupolis, Alexandroupolis, Greece ; 5 Internal Medicine Department, "Theageneio" Anticancer Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece ; 6 Pathology Department, "G. Papanikolaou" General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zarogoulidis
keywords: Coronary artery disease (CAD); heart failure; minimal invasive techniques; surgical techniques