title: Strategies for the coronary surgeon to remain "competitive and co-operative" in the PCI era.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The advent of percutaneous intervention has made surgical treatment of coronary artery disease less favored by patients though the evidence that supports CABG in certain patient subsets is strong.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature review was done using Pubmed, Scopus, Google and Google Scholar with MeSH terms-coronary artery bypass grafting, internal mammary artery, drug eluting stent, stroke, myocardial revascularization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The adoption of evolving techniques like anaortic off pump grafting, bilateral internal mammary artery use, hybrid and minimally invasive coronary revascularization techniques, intra-operative graft assessment, and heart team approach can lead to better outcomes following surgery as is evidenced by recent literature.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Though the adoptability of the newer strategies may vary between centers a close coalition between coronary surgeons and cardiologists would ensure that the management of coronary artery disease is based on evidence for the benefit of the patient.
authors: Consultant, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Rajagiri Hospital, India.
authors: George Jose
authors: GJ
authors: Valooran
authors: Senior Consultant and HOD, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Rajagiri Hospital, India. Electronic address: shivnairmd@gmail.com.
authors: Shiv Kumar
authors: SK
authors: Nair
authors: Consultant, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Rajagiri Hospital, India.
authors: Krishnan
authors: K
authors: Chandrasekharan
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D066231:Surgeons / Q000592:standards*
keywords: Coronary artery bypass grafting; Drug eluting stent; Internal mammary artery; Myocardial revascularization; Stroke